California pounded by snowfall as storms shutter national parks

Storms push snow depths to near record levels in Sierra Nevada mountains, as brutal weather stretches across western US

California saw little reprieve on Thursday as severe winter weather continues to hammer the state, setting the stage for record breaking snow accumulation across the Sierra Nevada mountains. Heavy snowfall is choking off entry and exits from tourist towns, closing popular national parks, piling snow as high as rooftops, causing dangerous travel conditions and leaving thousands without power, with more snow on the way.

California's famous Yosemite national park has been closed indefinitely, citing concerns about dangerous travel in and out of the park, while further south, Joshua Tree national park also closed down due to inclement weather". Photos on social media showcased popular cabins and campgrounds buried in white. Locals in Tahoe, who began referring to last month as februburied", are bracing for more whiteout conditions as a series of winter storms pushed snow levels this season past 12ft - the highest they have been in decades.