A White Christmas: Storm Dumps Two Feet of Snow in the Sierra
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Skiers in the Sierra Nevada have a Christmas Day present from Mother Nature: About two feet of fresh snow on the slopes.
The National Weather Service says a storm system that moved through the northern Sierras dumped more than 20 inches of snow on parts the mountain range between Thursday and Friday morning.
Elsewhere in Northern California, the storm sparked a tornado that damaged rooftops and downed trees.
National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Thompson in Oxnard said the system was moving into Southern California, where strong winds were forecast starting Friday evening and into Saturday.
Wind gusts of up to 70 mph were forecast at higher elevations.