Californians are thrilled and frightened by the "strongest blizzard in years."

(theguardian) ⸻ The snowstorm hovering over the southern part of California could end up becoming one for the record books as typically balmy areas brace for a barrage of more blizzard conditions and blustery winds. The system, which drew arctic air from the north and picked up moisture over the Pacific, will also unleash a unique cocktail of possible impacts, from flurries to floods. Temperatures in San Francisco dipped beneath a record low that's held for more than a century, and more than 101,000 California homes and businesses had lost power as the next wave of brutal weather threatened to bear down. Blizzard warnings were issued for the first time in San Diego county, and only the second time in Los Angeles county's history. The NWS issued a tornado warning in the Los Angeles area, with a possible threat for "weak waterspouts over the coastal waters". Strong frigid winds are expected to topple trees and down power lines, and torrents of rain could cause flash flooding. This system is rare and hasn't happened in decades, but it fits into a wetter trend in the west. The recent series of severe storms that pummeled California in January have relieved some of the pressure from a prolonged and devastating drought, and the state's snowpack is at 144% of its 1 April average. However, there is still a long way to go and more research is needed to determine the role of climate change.