Cathy Perfect
Kern Valley Sun

Local residents woke up Monday morning to deep blankets of powdery snow covering the valley floor and mountain ranges. Snow fall amounts varied, with neighborhoods in the Wofford Heights and Kernville areas receiving up to 12 inches of snow. Power was out sporadically throughout the communities of Lake Isabella, Bodfish and Mt. Mesa, while most residents in Kernville and Wofford Heights didn’t see their electricity return until 8:30-9:00 p.m. Monday night.

California Highway Patrol closed Hwy. 178 from about 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. between South Lake and Mountain Mesa, as vehicles slid and skidded on the icy roads. None of the collisions resulted in serious injuries, said CHP Officer Greg Williams, but drivers stuck in snow drifts was a common sight throughout the day Monday.

Snow plows, like the one pictured above on Bodfish Canyon Road Monday morning, were welcome sights as valley residents waited for the roads to clear so they could venture out into the winter wonderland of near record snowfall.

All schools in the valley were closed for the day, but reopened Tuesday after a two-hour snow and ice delay.

A cold, unstable airmass lingered over the Central California interior, with snow levels remaining between 1,500 and 2,000 feet on Tuesday. At presstime Tuesday snow showers were expected to continue with additional snowfall accumulations of four to seven inches possible by Tuesday evening.

With more than two feet on the ground, Alta Sierra Ski Resort and Terrain Park announced it will open Friday, Dec. 19.

Readers wishing to submit photos to the Sun’s online photo gallery may do so by submitting them online or sending them to photo@kvsun.com.