The blizzard that recently buried mountain communities of Southern California in several feet of snow was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most residents.
However, weather and history often repeat, and the 2023 storms share many stories and difficult lessons learned from another monster storm that struck the area in 1933.
Now the question is, how did 90 years of growth and technology that separated the storms affect the outcomes?
In 1933, Southern Californians flocked to the nearby mountain resorts for the same reasons they do today, ease of access, beautiful scenery, a breath of fresh air, and snow.
For months, the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce had been vigorously promoting the Midwinter Carnival at Lake Arrowhead scheduled to begin on Saturday, Jan. 28, 1933. In previous years, similar winter carnivals drew 8,000 to 15,000 visitors.
With a whopping 58 inches of snow already on the ground just days before the 1933 carnival, local businesses and county crews struggled to clear the roads and create enough parking for the thousands of anticipated attendees and their vehicles.
Beginning on Jan. 27, visitors in cars and buses began making their way up the slippery roads to watch the carnival’s opening ceremonies. Eventually, scores of vehicles on Rim of The World Drive, also known as Highway 18, were jammed into a miles-long traffic snarl that just kept getting worse.
Unable to move, many drivers simply abandoned their vehicles where they stood, and trudged through the deep snow to watch the carnival or find warm shelter.
On Jan. 29, another powerful storm moved in, and buried the already trapped vehicles and passengers in 1 to 2 feet of new snow.
Many visitors who were lucky enough to be stuck near a resort were able to find emergency shelter. Every resort in the mountains was packed beyond capacity, and the local pantries were quickly swept clean.
After days of heroic rescues, the roads finally began to open, one small section at a time. Motorists began digging cars out, and slowly creeping their way down the mountain.
Related Articles
Rain hits Southern California as battered San Bernardino mountain towns brace for any effects
San Bernardino Mountain residents reevaluate survival preparation amid disaster
Snow removal, food distribution continue in San Bernardino Mountains
Highway 18 in San Bernardino Mountains being inspected for avalanche threat
San Bernardino County agencies continue to dig out residents, plow roads
With thousands of people marooned in deep snow and freezing temperatures, it seemed like a miracle that no lives were claimed by the heaviest blizzard in recent history.
On Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, the weather forecasts got serious when the National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the mountains of Los Angeles County. A few inches of snow had already fallen that day, and the forecast said beginning Feb. 24, 2 to 5 feet of snow accumulation was likely above 4,000 feet, with isolated amounts near 7 feet at higher elevations.
The following day, Feb. 23, the National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the San Bernardino Mountains. This was the first blizzard warning issued for Los Angeles County since 1989, and the first blizzard warning ever issued in San Bernardino County.
The brunt of the 2023 storm struck in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 25, dropping 3 to 4 feet of snow in most mountain communities.
County and state officials made clearing the roads a top priority, but the equipment and manpower was quickly overwhelmed. Major highways and arteries were plowed first, but some residential streets weren’t plowed for days.
During major snowstorms, snow removal crews clear Park Drive in Wrightwood by creating a huge snow berm in the center of the road. This photo from March 1, 2023, shows the berm after about 5 feet of snow was cleared from the road. (Photo by Mark Landis)
The community of Wrightwood sits at 6,000 feet elevation in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains, and it was buried. The town of about 5,000 people is reached by state Highway 2, and some smaller county roads.
Patrick and Julie Boyle own the Wrightwood Market, the only gas station in town, and their business became a focal point for keeping the town running.
“We were exceptionally lucky to get a fuel shipment in on Friday [February 24], just before the big snow hit,” said Patrick Boyle. “We were only able to open for about 2 hours on Saturday morning, and we opened later for a few hours to keep the snow removal equipment fueled.”
With fuel delivery trucks unable to resupply the gas station due to road conditions, fuel for snow removal equipment quickly became a concern. “Caltrans ran out of fuel for their equipment, and they had to refuel here along with the county and local operators,” he said.
Just as residents started making progress digging out, Mother Nature threw a gut-punch at the struggling mountain communities on March 27 and 28, when she dropped another 1 to 1 ½ feet of snow on the mountains.
The communities around Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains were the most heavily impacted by the 2023 storms. Deep snow made roads impassable, and state and county plows were barely able to keep the primary roads open.
Scattered power outages made the situation worse, especially for those trapped in their homes on secondary or residential roads. In the following days, residents and government agencies made numerous heroic rescue efforts to free people trapped in the deep snow, and to bring in needed supplies.
On March 1, California Governor Gavin Newsome proclaimed a state of emergency in 13 counties, including Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, and he activated the California National Guard.
Despite a collapsed roof, people stand in line for food at Goodwin & Son’s Market in Crestline, CA, on Friday, March 3, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The same day, the roof of Goodwin and Son’s Market, the only grocery store in the Crestline community, collapsed under the weight of snow, forcing the store to close. On March 2, Jensen’s Market in Blue Jay was damaged by heavy snow, and a second major food store in the area was forced to close.
In Big Bear Lake, residents are used to heavy snowfall, and they were generally prepared for this storm, according to Big Bear Lake Councilmember Rick Herrick.
“We had about 4 feet of snow in town, and up to 11 feet on the ski slopes.” Herrick said. “There were no major hiccups with this storm, and thankfully, the power and other utilities held up pretty well. The fire department was a great help getting snow off the roofs of some homes and checking for gas leaks.”
On March 7, San Bernardino County announced on Facebook that snow had been removed from 90% of county roadways, and work was continuing.
The snow didn’t stop falling in the Lake Arrowhead area where workers were out in force on Sunday, March 5, 2023, plowing roads and shoveling snow. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Despite the optimistic reports, some residents in remote locations and on private roads remained trapped. Russ Keller, a resident of Crestline who lives on a private road said, “We haven’t been able to leave since February 22. Our street was finally plowed on March 9 …”
As of March 9, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said it had responded to 13 death investigations — only one death directly related to the extreme weather conditions.
Some of the major differences between the 1933 and 2023 storms can be explained by population density and communication technology.
In the early 1930s, only 1,000 to 2,000 people lived full time in the mountain communities that stretch from Wrightwood in the west, to Big Bear City in the east. Based on 2021 census information, there are about 55,000 full-time residents in those communities today.
Read more
California winter weather state of emergency declared by Biden
Big Bear Lake businesses grapple with tourism wipeout
Rain hits Southern California as battered San Bernardino mountain towns brace for any effects
Gov. Gavin Newsom requests emergency declaration amid storms
Blizzard warning for Southern California mountains is expanded
The full-time mountain residents in 1933 were generally more experienced with severe weather, and most were equipped to be self-sufficient for days or weeks. Even when residents were trapped, their numbers were much smaller, and rescues were more manageable.
Social media played a large role in the storm of 2023, with residents communicating with each other and government agencies about conditions. Residents also relayed information about neighbors who were trapped, or needed supplies or medical help, and they were often the first responders to emergencies.
The single largest difference between the storms may have been the weather forecasts that alerted residents and government agencies to the potential danger. The 2023 forecasts also allowed local authorities to plan for road closures, and determine where to stage snow removal equipment.
Although many vehicles were trapped in the 2023 storm, stuck vehicles didn’t create the massive gridlock of 1933.
Patrick Boyle summed up the feelings of community experienced across the mountains that could apply to both storms; “On Sunday [February 26], I had this wonderful warm feeling that even though the town was completely locked up, everyone was getting out and just helping each other for the next few days.”