First Snow of Winter Falls --and It’s Summmer

The first snow of winter began falling in Northern California Sunday--two weeks before the end of summer.

A “rather unseasonable” cold front had wandered in from the Pacific overnight, the National Weather Service said, and by noon, 4 to 5 inches of snow was reported on the ground at various points in Modoc County.

Snow was also falling below the 6,000-foot level in Lassen Park, and a foot or more of snow was predicted for the northern Sierra. Snow levels ranged from 5,000 to 7,500 feet at various points in the Sierra during the day, and were expected to descend well below 4,500 feet in the northern mountains overnight, with an accompaniment of gusty southwest winds.

Mountain travelers were warned to carry chains and be prepared for difficult driving conditions throughout the area.

And it was raining along the northern and central coast, and at lower levels inland.

Three to five inches of rain fell in 18 hours at various points in the northern Sacramento Valley, and there was minor flooding in scattered low-lying urban areas, though no major damage was reported.

This sudden change in the weather, meteorologists said, was spawned by a strong area of low pressure off the coast.

That system was moving slowly southward, and the cold front branching southwestward from it was expected to dominate the weather picture throughout the state at least until the middle of the week, dropping moderate to heavy rain at lower altitudes of the northern and central mountains and along the coast.

Forecasters said some of the rain could fall in Southern California.

Sunday’s high temperature in Orange County was 81 degrees in El Toro. Mostly cloudy skies and cooler temperatures were forecast for today and Tuesday, with highs ranging from 68 to 73 degrees and nighttime temperatures between 58 and 65 degrees.

The storm system to the north was expected to keep skies at least partly cloudy along the coast, intermediate valleys and mountains, with a 20% chance of light showers late today and Tuesday and south winds to 25 m.p.h. at times in the mountains. The forecast called for temperatures to 40 degrees overnight.

Desert areas were slated for a little high cloudiness at times through Tuesday--through no measurable rainfall was predicted--and local south to southwest winds were expected to blow sand and gravel around with gusts of 30 m.p.h. at times.