ALASKAN STORM HITS CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--Rain, wind, snow and sleet pelted the northern part of the state of California.

A fast moving Alaskan storm struck Northern California and brought wild weather to the area. Sleet, snow, and heavy rain played havoc in San Francisco, leaving several inches of snow on the high San Francisco Mountains, giving the area a white blanket that is seldom seen in the area.

Since it was a strong storm and it hasn't rain since early November, flooding occurred along the streets, where the drains were filled with leaves and fine dirt.

In areas where there was a wild fire in California this summer, mud slides occurred. Sand bagging helped to divert the water run off in some areas, but the heavy run off caused damages to areas that were in the wild fire path.

Temperatures dropped through out the state,making roads and streets slippery with dangerous black ice: ice that looks like the road or pavement. Fruit trees were threatened by the cold temperatures that certain areas had to use special techniques to prevent damages: fans were used to keep the air circulating so that frost doesn't settle on to the crops.

California's weather can change in a moments notice. Saturday morning's temperature was a pleasant 70 degrees, but by nightfall everything started to change. You could feel a cold wind blowing from land towards the Pacific Ocean, which indicated a cold spell was coming. For the first time this year, almost all the California's ski resorts are gearing to open for the 2008-2009 ski season.

It seems every year, just before Christmas, California get a major winter storm. In other words, this winter is beginning like winters in the past.