202004.07
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Coronavirus: Storm whitens the San Bernardino Mountains, but officials bar playing in the snow

by in News

  • The road is icy and trees are covered in snow in the Angeles Oaks area near Big Bear on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, after a cold storm passed through the San Bernardino Mountains. The Big Bear Sheriff’s office tweeted that snow play is prohibited due to the coronavirus. (Courtesy of Lee Fulmer)

  • Spring still manages to bloom on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, even after 6 inches of snow fell in The Angeles Oaks area of the San Bernardino Mountains the day before. The Big Bear Sheriff’s office tweeted that snow play is prohibited due to the coronavirus. (Courtesy of Christy Fulmer)

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  • The ground and trees are covered in snow in the Angeles Oaks area near Big Bear on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, after a cold storm passed through the San Bernardino Mountains. The Big Bear Sheriff’s office tweeted that snow play is prohibited due to the coronavirus. (Courtesy of Christy Fulmer)

  • The road is icy and trees are covered in 6 inches of new snow in the Angeles Oaks area near Big Bear on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, after a cold storm passed through the San Bernardino Mountains. The Big Bear Sheriff’s office tweeted that despite the lure of the newly fallen snow, snow play is prohibited due to the coronavirus. (Courtesy of Lee Fulmer)

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Don’t bother donning a ski jacket and shelve all thoughts of playing in the snow.

While a storm brought rain and snow to Southern California this week and tempted residents hunkered down at home, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind folks to stay home. No snow playing allowed.

The department’s Big Bear Station tweeted Tuesday that “SNOWPLAY IS PROHIBITED IN BIG BEAR VALLEY.” The station also reminded the public that ski resorts, snow play areas, public lots and on-street parking in the city of Big Bear Lake are closed and and that people should follow the governor’s order and stay put.

The key words are social distancing.

“We understand there is snow and people need to play in snow,” said Jodi Miller, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, adding that it was akin to people flocking to beaches.

But she and other officials pointed out that just because snow fell right now doesn’t mean people should head to the mountains.

“Everyone needs to police themselves,” Miller said.

The department will not have extra patrols out trying to catch snow players. But deputies from the Big Bear station who see groups congregating will politely remind people about social distancing, Miller said.

Also expect to be dispersed.

“We don’t have the manpower to do extra patrols of snowplayers. Of course, if we see a group of snow players gathering, we have the right to stop and question what they’re doing,” said Officer Garret Morris of the California Highway Patrol’s Arrowhead area office.

He said CHP officers won’t issue tickets but will tell groups to disperse.



Weather experts expect more snow and rain to come this week because of the storm that originated off the coast of British Columbia and headed to the U.S. West Coast.

In San Bernardino County, snow fell at 5,500 feet. There could be snow at 4,500 feet Tuesday night, according to Adam Roser, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service San Diego office, which also covers San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside counties.

The mountain areas in San Bernardino County could see another 10 to 15 inches of snow through Friday, Roser said.

He said Green Valley Lake got 14 inches of snow from Sunday to Tuesday. Arrowbear and Running Springs each received nine inches of snow while four inches fell in Big Bear during the same time period, he added.

He said the storm is expected to be around until Friday.

“This is one big slow moving storm, pretty anomalous for April. It’s a pretty cold storm for April,” Roser said.

He said most of Orange County and the Inland Empire didn’t get snow. Some places saw half an inch while areas closer to the mountains had an inch and 1/2, maybe more, Roser said.

In the San Gabriel Mountains, snow fell above 5,000 feet, said meteorologist Joe Sirard of the National Weather Service Oxnard office which covers Los Angeles County.

He said there is a winter storm warning for the mountain areas starting Tuesday night and in effect through 5 a.m. Thursday.

“We are expecting the snow to increase above 6,000 feet. We are expecting 12 to 18 inches,” Sirard said.

For elevations between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, the NWS expects four to 12 inches of snow. About two to four inches of snow could fall at elevations between 4,000 to 5,000 feet, he said.

He said Los Angeles county will have showers off and on to Thursday evening.

“Friday, we will have dry weather,” Sirard said.