Western US states hit by record freeze and heavy snow

The US west is facing record-breaking cold temperatures and heavy snow as severe weather sweeps the region from Washington to California.

Officials in Oregon and western Washington opened emergency warming shelters as temperatures dropped into the teens (below zero in centigrade) amid an arctic blast that forecasters said would last several days. In California, heavy snow closed ski resorts and shut down travel across much of the Sierra Nevada, the mountainous region along the California-Nevada border.

Winter weather led to canceled flights in Seattle, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and elsewhere.

At Donner Pass in the Sierra, officials at the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory on Monday said recent snowfall had smashed the snowiest December record of 179in, set in 1970. The record is 202.1, making it the third snowiest month on record, but more snow is expected.

Officials were able to resume operations Tuesday as conditions improved and about 35 people from multiple agencies were aiding in the search.

In Nevada, freezing air and blinding snow blasted across the northern part of the state on Monday, affecting travel and business, closing Sierra Nevada highway passes, delaying airport flights and shutting state offices.

Crews were working to clear snow and trees from Interstate 80, which remained closed from the Nevada state line to Placer county, California, due to poor visibility and heavy snow. An avalanche blocked a state route that connects Tahoe City to some ski resorts in Olympic Valley.Authorities advised motorists to avoid nonessential travel.

The Nevada governor, Steve Sisolak, ordered nonessential state workers, other than public safety and corrections personnel, to remain at home because of the storm.

Temperatures in western Washington and Oregon were not expected to rise above freezing until at least Thursday, and possibly not until the weekend, forecasters said.