Daily surface mass balance has been spiking well above the 1981 - 2010 average in recent days, with roughly 7 gigatons posted on April 21 alone:
Snowfall has continued to reload the ice sheet, pushing broad, sustained gains. Losses remain confined to narrow coastal strips, which is typical — but the scale and persistence of the accumulation this late is not.
Mt. Bachelor begins wrap-up of short season with fresh snowfall
As of Thursday morning, Mt. Bachelor ski area had received 17 inches of snow in 24 hours and a total of 48 inches over a two-day period. This mid-April storm brought 11 inches of snow overnight causing snow immersion suffocation and tree well risk at the ski area for what seems like the first time this season. It must've been quite the powder day, hopefully all who partook stayed safe.
The ski area announced last week that this would be its final weekend, culminating on its end of season celebration, RendezVan.
As for this weekend, the weather looks like it will clear up on the mountain. The mid-mountain forecast on Snow-forecast.com predicts that to be the last of the snow this season. Temperatures could reach into the mid-40s Saturday and Sunday. Winds are expected to die down and the sun could break through the clouds.
The ski area has seen a total of 206 inches of snow this season, according to its mountain report. Its snow base was up to 43 inches Thursday.
Severe thunderstorms have affected the Mediterranean this week. On Monday, a surface low-pressure system in the Mediterranean in conjunction with an upper air cut-off low, led to thunderstorms over north Africa. Their intensity was aided by the hot precursor conditions.
Algeria and Tunisia were notably affected by the thunderstorms, with some hail accumulation layers as a result. When so much hail forms, it starts to lay down sheets of hail, covering the ground like snow. Hail accumulations of up to 3cm were reported in Oum Ladjoul and Hammam Sokhna in Algeria, and there were hailstones of up to 3cm in diameter in Makthar, Tunisia. Thunderstorms continued in the region through the following day, with further hail accumulations, notably in Ouled Bousmir, Tunisia, where there was a layer about 2cm deep.
Later in the week, another surface low developed, this time over Sicily. Thunderstorms broke out across parts of central Italy on Wednesday morning. These led to some severe downpours, with 52.1mm of rain falling in just over an 1 hour and 10 minutes in the city of Ascoli Piceno and 62.3mm falling in less than 1 hour and 50 minutes in the town of Mosciano Sant'Angelo. Other regions were also affected, with 46mm of rain in 36 minutes in the Sicilian town of Bagheria, as well as heavy rain being recorded in Algeria and Tunisia.
Snowfall warnings in effect for much of southern Alberta
Calgarians were in for another slippery commute Thursday after a spring snowstorm plunged the city back into winter driving conditions.
Heavy snow is expected to continue to fall throughout the day, with total accumulations of 15 to 30 centimetres, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
"Poor visibility due to blowing snow is occurring in some areas and will continue until mid-morning," the agency said in its yellow-level snowfall warning for the city.
Yellow-level snowfall warnings are also in effect for much of southwestern Alberta.
Calgary Transit has put all of its snow detour routes into effect and is asking riders to check if their route is affected while planning their trips.
"We are working hard to get you to your destination safely, so please be patient and give yourself extra travel time," Calgary Transit said on its website.
The latest Palisades Tahoe, California, snow report tells a story of remarkable late-season resurgence. A sustained storm cycle has transformed conditions on the upper mountain, logging a foot of new snow overnight and driving the three-day storm total to 43 inches. The resort is now among the last Tahoe areas still operating.
Most ski areas across the western U.S. have endured one of their worst seasons in recent memory, with dry and mild conditions since November, leaving many resorts struggling to open meaningful terrain. Palisades has been an exception to that late-season trend this week.
Sunny breaks are emerging across the mountain on Monday, though forecasters have not ruled out additional snow showers that could add another inch to the upper elevations before conditions settle. Long-range models continue to show troughing over the region through the third week of April, with additional storm systems possible and a cooler-than-normal pattern expected to persist.
The weekend storm delivered heavy snow Saturday night, with snow levels crashing down to around 4,000 feet, well below the base, bringing fluffier, high-ratio snow to the upper mountain.
April in North India is defying expectations this year, with unseasonal rain, snowfall, and a sharp dip in temperatures replacing the usual summer heat. States like Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi are witnessing winter-like conditions, driven by persistent Western Disturbances.
These moisture-laden systems, typically active in winter, have lingered into spring, bringing storms, hail, and cloudy skies. The unusual weather has disrupted daily life and raised concerns among farmers, with significant crop damage reported.
Experts warn this could signal increasing climate variability, where shifting patterns blur seasonal boundaries and make weather more unpredictable and potentially more damaging.
Multicolored clouds shimmered across the sky in Yunnan, China, as sunlight refracted through ice crystals, creating a vivid display of shifting colors.
Researchers followed 80% of the US population for two decades, and found that cold temperatures contributed to a whopping 800,000 deaths while hot temperatures were linked to only 2,000.
They were looking at monthly temperature data in 819 locations across the US. Then they checked the cardiovascular death rates and found the burden of excess deaths is "quite substantial".
During cold periods our blood vessels contract to reduce heat loss, which is why our skin looks slightly bluer or whiter in colder weather. But even a small reduction in volume makes our blood pressure rise. So it is not surprising that colder months are linked to significantly higher death rates from heart attacks, strokes, and coronary artery disease compared to milder periods. As the population ages and kidney disease and diabetes get worse, the
Nearly every dollar we pour into preventing heat deaths will end up killing more people than it saves. It's time Climate Ministry's put more accurate costings on any policy aiming to reduce global temperature. We want numbers, and during cold months the people need oil to keep them warmer.
A large multi-vehicle pile-up was captured on a snowy, icy highway in China, including a bus that lost control, causing the vehicles behind it to crash into it.
A witness estimated that around 30 vehicles were involved in the chain-reaction crash.
Authorities did not immediately report any casualties or the extent of any injuries.
Shimla district witnessed unexpected snowfall on Wednesday, hitting apple orchards at a crucial stage of flowering and fruit setting. Growers across Upper Shimla, including Narkanda and Kotkhai, reported extensive damage, raising concerns over a sharp decline in this season's apple production.
The sudden spell of snowfall and hailstorm has damaged apple trees that had just entered the setting phase. Many orchards saw anti-hail nets collapsing under the weight of accumulated snow, while branches of trees broke in several areas. The tender blossoms, essential for fruit formation, were hit hard, and growers fear that the cold conditions will further disrupt pollination.
Apple growers say the losses could be significant this year. "The snowfall has come at the worst possible time. The flowers have been damaged, and fruit setting will be affected," said a grower from Kotkhai. With temperatures dropping sharply, the conditions are not favourable for normal crop development.
Comment: See also: April snowfall batters Shimla apple belt, in Himachal Pradesh, India - growers stare at heavy losses