California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared states of emergency in several counties amid a winter storm that brought snow to Los Angeles.
Newsom deployed the National Guard Wednesday to help residents, particularly in San Bernardino County, where some have been trapped in their homes for days.
The Sierra Nevada mountain ranges of northern and southern California were battered by several feet of snow Wednesday and will remain under winter storm watch through Thursday.
Wind, freeze and winter storm warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service, which was issued across the sunny state as temperatures in certain areas hit freezing lows of as low as 26 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to the governor’s office, the National Guard is working with local law enforcement to open shelters for residents and help deliver food and water to those trapped.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared states of emergency in several counties amid a winter storm that brought snow to Los Angeles. Pictured: a palm tree in LA as snow fell on Wednesday
Newsom deployed the National Guard Wednesday to help residents, particularly in San Bernardino County, where some have been trapped in their homes for days. Pictured: A church buried in snow in the San Bernardino Mountain Range
Counties named in the emergency statement include Amador, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Sonoma and Tulare.
Some areas not included in the statement were not ordered to evacuate, including residents of the Olympic Valley east of Sacramento.
An avalanche hit an apartment building in the area around 7 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Sierra Sun. No injuries were reported.
Several residents in the southern mountain ranges have asked the governor for help clearing the roads as food and water supplies are running low.
“Roofs are collapsing everywhere, people need help and rescue. All stores are running low on food and water supplies. Gas stations are low on gas,” Lake Arrowhead resident Miyah Nelson told KTLA.
“We need to clear our streets so people can leave their homes. They’re all trapped.”
Gas stations were seen covered in snow in the San Bernardino mountains on Wednesday. Pictured: a gas station in Running Springs
A man was seen walking through snow in the San Bernardino Mountains on Monday when several people were trapped in their homes
Wind, freeze and winter storm warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service, which was issued across the sunny state as temperatures in certain areas hit freezing lows of as low as 26 degrees Fahrenheit
Several people across the state appeared trapped by the storm, including workers at the Sugar Bowl Resort in northern, California – east of Sacramento
Snow fell Wednesday at low elevations in the state’s southern end, appearing unusually in areas stretching from Orange County to Los Angeles.
Stunned by the rare sighting, several Angelenos posted photos of snow touching near the famous Hollywood sign.
According to Deadline, snow has even made it to Disneyland in Anaheim for the first time since 1882.
The storm left about 100,000 homes and businesses in the state without power on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, San Bernardino County declared a state of emergency as crews struggled to plow blocked roads.
Jennifer Cobb and her husband, vacationing in the San Bernardino Mountains, found themselves caught in a relentless series of storms for a week.
“We hear the phantom sounds of plows but they never come,” said Cobb, 49. “Being stuck up here in this beautiful place shouldn’t be terrible, but it is.”
Stunned by the rare sighting, several Angelenos posted photos of snow touching near the famous Hollywood sign
A worker was seen plowing snow along State Route 138 in Hesperia, California on Wednesday
In the mountain town of Crestline, some people who couldn’t drive trudged to the grocery store.
But Michael Johnstone said his family’s store was running low on essential stocks on Tuesday.
“We’re out of bread. Milk is getting really light. We’re almost out of product,” Johnstone said. Authorities escorted two full food trucks into the mountain community, he said, but just in time for the new storm to add more snow.
In Sacramento, about 50 bus passengers were stranded Tuesday night because heavy snow closed the freeways, according to Daniel Bowers, who heads the city’s emergency management office.
The powerful winter storm is now expected to spread snow, ice and strong winds to parts of the Great Plains, Midwest and Northeast by the end of the week, with the Boston area expected to see several inches of snow through Friday .