Hot Temperatures Speeding Up The Snow Melt

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By ABC30

Monday, April 20, 2009

Fresno, CA The melting snow signals the end of a season at Rancheria Marina at Huntington Lake. Snowmobiles that are rented during the winter months now sit surrounded by concrete, instead of snow. "Our cutoff is when the snow starts melting and too much pavement is showing. There is a little more than we're used to. It started showing quicker," said Mitzi Richards.

The ski season is also over at Sierra Summit. After a late start because of a lack of snow, the ski park closed Sunday because of dwindling attendance. "The weather gets nice in the valley. People start bringing out their boats and doing their gardening. It happens every year," said manager Boomer Devaurs.

Though there is plenty of snow in higher elevations, it's all but gone at Shaver Lake. The water is now heading to valley lakes and streams and so are people, as they try to cool off. But public safety officials are urging people to be careful, because the water can be deceiving. "People don't realize, they go out there in the water and they cramp up, they get fatigued quicker than usual because of the extreme cold water. And that's when people get in trouble," said Fresno Calfire spokesperson Chris Christopherson.