Visitors and locals alike took advantage of the changing conditions, enjoying the crisp fall weather that hinted at the season ahead.

A strong, early-season winter storm will dump as much as 3 feet of snow in the high-elevation parts of California's Sierra Nevada mountains this week, which could eventually supplement the water levels of many reservoirs in the area. Newsweek reached out to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) by email for comment.

Predicted by forecasters to receive 10 inches or more of snow, Mammoth Mountain hit that mark in some places and fell short in others. Regardless, the top of the mountain looks positively wintry on Wednesday morning, as does the ski resort’s base area.

A strong early season storm looks poised to bring rain and snow to Northern California early next week, but how much and when? Depends on the track.

California braces for a winter storm like no other, with icy roads and heavy snow threatening both the north and south.

1 to 2 feet for the broader Sierra and Lassen high terrain with up to 3 feet on the highest peaks. Exposed crest zones and backcountry ridgelines may overperform the mid-mountain resort numbers. Biggest takeaway for Tahoe is a dense base builder first, then a colder, higher-quality finish Tuesday night.

Time-lapse videos from the ALERTCalifornia and UC San Diego show snow brought on by the first major winter storm of 2025 in the Sierra Nevada.

Some areas could see a month's worth of rain by Tuesday, while the Sierra braces for several feet of early season snow.