SCE Crews Prepare for Mammoth Snowstorm

Weekend storm expected to bring avalanches, heavy snow and high winds to the Sierra with wet weather throughout the service area.
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Stories : Safety

SCE Crews Prepare for Mammoth Snowstorm

Weekend storm expected to bring avalanches, heavy snow and high winds to the Sierra with wet weather throughout the service area.

The strongest Sierra winter storm of the season is approaching Southern California Edison’s service area, with a blizzard warning in effect from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning in Fresno, Mono and Tulare Counties and a high risk of avalanches throughout the eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the eastern and southern Sierra, including Fresno, Inyo, Tulare and the Kern County mountains and a high wind warning for Barstow and other Mojave Desert communities. Wind speeds are expected to range from 50-75 mph in the eastern Sierra foothills, with isolated gusts up to 100 mph in higher elevations, and from 40-60 mph in Barstow and other high desert communities, with isolated gusts up to 80 mph.

“This is a very prolonged storm that will bring impacts all the way through Sunday. We’re expecting 4 to 6 feet of snow in the Mammoth Mountain and Shaver Lake areas,” said SCE meteorologist David Siuta. “When you have the combination of wet, heavy snowfall accumulation with high winds, that creates conditions for avalanches and severe travel impacts.”

An SCE snowcat at Mono County's Lundy substation during a snowstorm in 2023.
An SCE snowcat at Mono County's Lundy substation during a snowstorm in 2023.

For the Southern California Mountains, 6 to 12 inches of snow is expected at some of the highest peaks with a Winter Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service for the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County.

Wet, heavy snow and high winds can bring trees crashing into power lines and cause outages. SCE has increased staffing levels in areas where the storm is expected to have the most significant impact, and crews are standing by to respond to potential power outages when it is safe for them to do so.

Equipment that could be impacted by the snowstorm, including power poles, cross arms, wire and transformers, is being readied for deployment as necessary. Roads are likely to be closed because of heavy snow, so SCE is coordinating with Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol to monitor road conditions and secure access for SCE repair crews.

Because Tuesday, March 5, is an election day, SCE has an online tool to report power outages impacting polling locations.

In Southern California mountain areas, one to two inches of rain is expected, with isolated totals of up to three inches in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains. Elsewhere in the valley, metro and coastal communities, rain totals from the storm are expected to range from ¼ to ¾ of an inch.

Four-wheel drive vehicles are among the necessities for SCE crews responding to snowstorms.
Four-wheel drive vehicles are among the necessities for SCE crews responding to snowstorms.

Another potentially weaker storm is expected to arrive as early as Tuesday, with up to a foot of snow in the Sierra and more rain in Southern California.

SCE encourages customers to prepare for potential outages by taking the following measures:

  • Freeze water and transfer it to your refrigerator if the power goes out to keep perishables cold.
  • Install surge protectors to help safeguard valuable electronic equipment, such as computers and home entertainment systems.
  • If you have an automatic garage door or gate, learn to open it manually (without power).
  • Make a safety preparedness plan for your family that includes a list and location of emergency items such as water bottles, flashlights, first-aid kits, extra blankets, etc.
  • Be prepared to meet the unique needs of infants and elderly or disabled family members. Also, plan how you will care for any pets.
Customers may report outages at 1-800-611-1911 or online at sce.com/outage-center. For more safety tips, visit sce.com/safety.