SIERRA NEVADA

Several roadways are closed with no estimated time to reopen.

The rain is soaking a state that desperately needs water, even as it takes a devastating human toll. Experts say it will help drought conditions, but it isn't yet clear exactly how much. And the rain and snow won't be enough to fix some of California's long-term water problems that climate change is making worse. Here’s how the storms will affect California’s long struggle with drought:WHERE IS THE RAIN HELPING? Although there have been some wet years mixed in, California’s drought has been going on for roughly two decades.

California has experienced a devastating, multi-year drought that’s depleted reservoirs, forced officials to plead with residents to conserve water and constrained supplies to vital farmland. The rain is soaking a state that desperately needs water, even as it takes a devastating human toll. Experts say it will help drought conditions, but it isn’t yet clear exactly how much.

The weather situation in California could get worse over the next week, potentially bringing flash floods, mudslides and at least 3 to 6 feet of snow.

The so-called atmospheric river storm was pulling in a long and wide plume of moisture from the Pacific Ocean. Flooding and rock slides closed portions of roads across Northern California.

Flooding and rock slides are closing roads, with more storms expected to hit in the coming week.

The storm began sweeping across the northern part of the state Friday.

A powerful storm is bringing drenching rain or heavy snowfall to much of California as the state gets ready to usher in a new year.

A flood watch was in effect across much of Northern California through New Year's Eve. Humboldt County, where a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck on Dec. 20, also saw roadways begin to flood, according to the National Weather Service's Eureka office. The California Highway Patrol reported some local roads in eastern Sacramento were under water and impassable at times on Friday. Heavy showers are forecast for Tuesday or Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Oxnard said. The rain was welcomed in drought-parched California, but much more precipitation is needed to make a significant difference.

A flood watch was in effect across much of Northern California through New Year's Eve. Humboldt County, where a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck on Dec. 20, also saw roadways begin to flood, according to the National Weather Service's Eureka office. The California Highway Patrol reported some local roads in eastern Sacramento were under water and impassable at times on Friday. Heavy showers are forecast for Tuesday or Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Oxnard said. The rain was welcomed in drought-parched California, but much more precipitation is needed to make a significant difference.

The orange locomotive plows through the powder with ease in northern California, clearing a path for other trains making their way through the Sierra Mountains.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — (AP) — A winter storm that sent ski lift chairs swinging and closed mountain highways in the Sierra Nevada will push across the United States and reach the Plains by mid-week, bringing significant rain and below-average temperatures. The Heavenly ski resort at Lake Tahoe shut down some operations when the brunt of the storm hit Saturday. The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab in Soda Springs, California reported Sunday morning that more than 43 inches (110 cm) had fallen in a 48-hour span. Many other key roads were closed because of heavy snow, including a stretch of California Highway 89 between Tahoe City and South Lake Tahoe, the highway patrol said. This could include the Tejon Pass and Grapevine area of Interstate 5,” the National Weather Service's LA-area office said in a statement.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — (AP) — Heavy snow fell in the Sierra Nevada as a winter storm packing powerful winds sent ski lift chairs swinging and closed mountain highways while downpours at lower elevations triggered flood watches Sunday across large swaths of California into Nevada. More than 250 miles (400 km) of the Sierra from north of Reno south to Yosemite National Park remained under winter storm warnings either until late Sunday or early Monday. The Heavenly ski resort at Lake Tahoe shut down some operations when the brunt of the storm hit Saturday. The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab in Soda Springs, California reported Sunday morning that more than 43 inches (110 cm) had fallen in a 48-hour span. Many other key roads were closed because of heavy snow, including a stretch of California Highway 89 between Tahoe City and South Lake Tahoe, the highway patrol said.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — (AP) — Heavy snow fell in the Sierra Nevada as a winter storm packing powerful winds sent ski lift chairs swinging and closed mountain highways while downpours at lower elevations triggered flood watches Sunday across large swaths of California into Nevada. More than 250 miles (400 km) of the Sierra from north of Reno south to Yosemite National Park remained under winter storm warnings either until late Sunday or early Monday. The Heavenly ski resort at Lake Tahoe shut down some operations on Saturday when the brunt of the storm hit. The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab reported Sunday morning that more than 43 inches (110 cm) had fallen in a 48-hour span. A stretch of California Highway 89 also was closed due to heavy snow between Tahoe City and South Lake Tahoe, the highway patrol said.

A winter storm that sent ski lift chairs swinging and closed mountain highways in the Sierra Nevada will push across the country and reach the Plains by mid-week, bringing significant rain and below-average temperatures.

More than 250 miles (400 km) of the Sierra from north of Reno south to Yosemite National Park remained under winter storm warnings either until late Sunday or early Monday. The Heavenly ski resort at Lake Tahoe shut down some operations when the brunt of the storm hit Saturday.

A winter storm packing powerful winds, heavy rain and potentially several feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada shut down highways, toppled trees and triggered flood watches and avalanche warnings.

RENO, Nev. — (AP) — A winter storm packing powerful winds, heavy rain and potentially several feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada shut down mountain highways, toppled trees and triggered flood watches and avalanche warnings on Saturday from the coast of Northern California to Lake Tahoe. A 70-mile (112-kilometer) stretch of eastbound U.S. Interstate 80 was closed “due to zero visibility” from Colfax, California to the Nevada state line, transportation officials said. A stretch of California Highway 89 also was closed due to heavy snow between Tahoe City and South Lake Tahoe, California, the highway patrol said. In the Sierra, about 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow already had fallen Saturday afternoon at Mammoth Mountain ski resort south of Yosemite where more than 10 feet (3 meters) of snow has been recorded since early November. ____Associated Press reporters Olga R. Rodriguez in San Francisco and Julie Walker in New York City contributed to this report.

The U.S. Forest Service issued an avalanche warning for the backcountry in the mountains west of Lake Tahoe.

RENO, Nev. — (AP) — A winter storm packing high winds and potentially several feet of snow blew into the Sierra Nevada on Saturday, triggering thousands of power outages in California, closing a mountain highway at Lake Tahoe and prompting an avalanche warning in the backcountry. The storm is expected to bring as much as 4 feet (1.2 meters) of snow to the upper elevations around Lake Tahoe by Monday morning, the National Weather Service said. A 250-mile (400-kilometer) stretch of the Sierra from north of Reno to south of Yosemite National Park was under a winter storm warning at least until Sunday. “It just seems like every week or so, another major storm rolls in,” resort spokeswoman Lauren Burke said. The storm warning stretches into Sunday for most of the Sierra, and doesn't expire until Monday around Tahoe.

A winter storm packing powerful winds, heavy rain and potentially several feet of snow is blowing into the Sierra Nevada.

A winter storm packing powerful winds, heavy rain and potentially several feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada shut down mountain highways, toppled trees and triggered flood watches and avalanche warnings on Saturday from the coast of Northern California to Lake Tahoe. More than 250 miles (400 kilometers) of the Sierra remained under a winter storm warning at least until Sunday night or early Monday from north of Reno to south of Yosemite National Park.

RENO, Nev. — (AP) — Another winter storm packing heavy snow and powerful winds was moving into the northern Sierra Nevada late Friday where as much as 4 feet (1.2 meters) of snow is forecast in the upper elevations around Lake Tahoe over the weekend. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for a 250-mile (400-kilometer) stretch of the Sierra beginning late Friday north of Reno along the California-Nevada line. The U.S. Forest Service activated a backcountry avalanche watch late Friday in the central Sierra including Tahoe and warned of higher avalanche danger Saturday into Sunday. “A winter storm with gale force winds, high intensity snowfall and feet of new snow accumulation may result in widespread avalanche activity in the mountains,” the Forest Service Sierra Avalanche Center said Friday. “You could be stuck in your vehicle for many hours,” the weather service in Reno warned.

Experts say several feet of snow expected in the Sierra Nevada will be beneficial, but a massive snowpack is needed to help California rebound out of a drought.

President James K. Polk ignited the California Gold Rush when he confirmed the discovery of the precious metal in his State of the Union address on this day in history, Dec. 5, 1848.

A stormy week across the West continues Wednesday with a myriad of impacts, including significant mountain snow, valley rain, gusty winds and cooler temperatures.

The San Diego airport was 89 degrees (31.6 degrees Celsius) with rain at 5 a.m. Friday. Officials from San Diego to Long Beach were posting warning signs in low-lying coastal areas and making sandbags available to the public. Windspeeds reached 109 mph (175 kph) on San Diego County’s Cuyamaca Peak, the National Weather Service said. The Fairview Fire covered about 43 square miles (111 square kilometers) of Riverside County and was just 5% contained. Evacuation orders were reduced to warnings as containment grew to 59% with just under 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) burned.

The National Weather Service warned of a threat of flash floods for much of Southern California, Arizona and southern Nevada. The San Diego airport was 89 degrees (31.6 degrees Celsius) with rain at 5 a.m. Friday. By late morning a steady rain pelted downtown San Diego as Charles Jenkins swept the accumulating puddles away from the tarps that make his makeshift home. The Fairview Fire covered about 43 square miles (111 square kilometers) of Riverside County and was just 5% contained. Evacuation orders were reduced to warnings as containment grew to 59% with just under 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) burned.

Beautiful weather for outdoor fun, fall colors galore, and festive seasonal activities—what more could you ask for?

TRUCKEE, Calif. — (AP) — A body found in a Northern California reservoir is believed to be that of 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, who went missing weeks ago after attending a large party at a Sierra Nevada campground, authorities said Monday. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon told a press conference that the body had not been identified yet but "we believe it is our missing person." Adventures with Purpose search members Doug Bishop and Nick Rinn briefly described the search in a Facebook livestream Monday morning. The campground is at the reservoir in the Sierra Nevada, about 165 miles (266 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco. The search grew to a wide area of California and Nevada and involved at least 16 local, state and federal enforcement agencies.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has a bogus claim that white men are the most persecuted group in America, and it’s pushing them to porn.

At the 7th annual Basque Fry, Republican heavyweights were eager to unite against incumbent Democrats at what has become a yearly tradition held in rural Douglas County. The event, which includes live music, an inflatable rodeo ride and Basque cuisine, is modeled after Adam Laxalt’s grandfather and former Nevada governor Paul Laxalt’s cookouts. The elder Laxalt was the son of Basque immigrants, and Adam now hosts the event with the Morning in Nevada PAC. “There are all sorts of different slices and flavors of Republicans state by state. Several speakers, including Cruz and Laxalt, condemned the search of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.

At the 7th annual Basque Fry in Gardnerville, a lineup of GOP national heavyweights and local Nevada politicians fired up a crowd of 1,500 Republicans with a message of urgency.

In his new book, Kim Stanley Robinson grounds himself firmly on Earth and explores the beauty of the High Sierra mountains.

In his new book, Kim Stanley Robinson grounds himself firmly on Earth and explores the beauty of the high sierra mountains.

An out-of-control wildfire is threatening Yosemite National Park's famous giant sequoias. The fire has forced the evacuation of some parts of the park. CBS News' Jonathan Vigliotti reports from Mariposa, California.

A federal judge has ruled the Trump administration acted illegally in 2020 when it withdrew an earlier proposal to list as threatened a hen-sized bird found only in the high desert along the California-Nevada line. Greater sage grouse live in sagebrush habitat in 12 western states, including California and Nevada, while bi-state grouse exist only along the Sierra’s eastern front.

Sierra Space plans to start launching resupply missions to the International Space Station as soon as 2023.

California Spring Snow In this photo provided by Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, MMSA, crew members get ready to board on a snow plower in Mammoth Mountain in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., on Friday, April 15, 2022. Mammoth Mountain is expecting a foot of fresh snow Saturday. The seven-day snow total topped 3 feet (.9 meters) in some mountain areas as of Saturday, UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab reported. Mammoth Mountain in the eastern Sierra reported a foot (30 cm) of fresh snow. The wet spring weather follows an exceptionally dry winter that leaves California to face another year of drought and tightening water supplies.

A spring storm brought several feet of snow to the Sierra Nevada and rain to parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, with more stormy weather expected this week.

A spring storm brought several feet of snow to the Sierra Nevada and rain to parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, with more stormy weather expected this week. The seven-day snow total topped 3 feet (.9 meters) in some mountain areas as of Saturday, UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab reported. Mammoth Mountain in the eastern Sierra reported a foot (30 cm) of fresh snow.

Geothermal Plant Rare Toad FILE - In this photo provided by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, a Dixie Valley toad sits atop grass in Dixie Valley, Nev., on April 6, 2009. The Fish and Wildlife Service announced it is formally proposing a rule to list the Dixie Valley toad as an endangered species subject to 60 days of public comment under the Endangered Species Act's normal rulemaking process. It wasn’t immediately clear how the toad's listing might affect construction of the power plant about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Reno. The Dixie Valley toad lives in wetlands around hot springs next to the construction site. Before that, an emergency listing was granted for the California tiger salamander under the Bush administration in 2002.

In a rare emergency move, the U.S. government has temporarily declared a Nevada toad endangered, saying a geothermal power plant in the works could result in its extinction.

Here’s the latest for Sunday, January 2: Snow storms, pandemic delay and ground U.S. flights; Two missing in massive Colorado fires; Fire ravages South Africa's historic Parliament complex; Crews rescue 21 people on tram cars in New Mexico.

A thaw-out is coming for the frozen Seattle and Portland, Oregon, but not before another round of snow that could compound problems for a region more accustomed to winter rain than arctic blasts.

"It's just so difficult," one woman said of the frigid temperatures and snow in Seattle.

Snow, ice and unseasonable cold in the Pacific Northwest and the Sierra Nevada are continuing to disrupt traffic, cause closures and force people to find refuge in emergency warming shelters. Snow showers began in the Northwest on Sunday from the Gulf of Alaska, dumping up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) across the Seattle area. In Multnomah County — home to Portland — about a half dozen weather shelters were open. On Tuesday, county officials said a resident died from exposure to cold temperatures on Saturday, KGW-TV reported. At Donner Pass in the Sierra, officials with the University of California, Berkeley's Central Sierra Snow Laboratory on Monday said recent snowfall has smashed the snowiest December record of 179 inches (4.6 meters), set in 1970.

Snow showers began in the Northwest on Sunday from the Gulf of Alaska, dumping up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) across the Seattle area. Another storm dropped more snow in western Washington and Oregon late Monday and Tuesday. In Multnomah County — home to Portland — about a half dozen weather shelters were open. Seattle city leaders also opened at least six severe weather shelters and the mayor declared an emergency. At Donner Pass in the Sierra, officials with the University of California, Berkeley's Central Sierra Snow Laboratory on Monday said recent snowfall has smashed the snowiest December record of 179 inches (4.6 meters), set in 1970.

Severe weather sweeping parts of the U.S. brought frigid temperatures to the Pacific Northwest and heavy snow to mountains in Northern California and Nevada. State officials in Oregon have declared an emergency. In Multnomah County — home to Portland — about a half dozen weather shelters were open. Seattle city leaders also opened at least six severe weather shelters and the mayor declared an emergency. Nearly 200 people stayed at the shelters overnight on Sunday, officials said, and they were expecting the numbers to grow.

Snow, ice and unseasonable cold in the Pacific Northwest and the Sierra Nevada are continuing to disrupt traffic, cause closures and force people to find refuge in emergency warming shelters.

Many along the west coast are experiencing freezing cold temperatures, power outages, road closures, delayed flights and other dangerous conditions.

Northwest Storm Winter Weather Washington A snow plow travels down a street in Tenino, Wash. on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. The Northstar California Resort in Truckee closed its mountain operations on Monday amid blizzard conditions. The ski resort has received more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) of snow over the last 48 hours, according to the resort's Facebook post. Search and rescue crews are looking for a missing skier who was last seen Saturday morning on a lift at the ski resort, KCRA reported. Interstate 80 remained closed due to poor visibility and heavy snow from the Nevada state line to Placer County, California.

SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — Blowing snow in mountains of Northern California and Nevada closed key highways over the weekend, while an arctic blast brought frigid temperatures to the Pacific Northwest and unusually warm weather settled over parts of Texas and the Southeast. At Donner Pass in the Sierra, officials with the University of California, Berkeley's Central Sierra Snow Laboratory on Monday said recent snowfall has smashed the snowiest December record of 179 inches (4.6 meters), set in 1970. In the Pacific Northwest, emergency warming shelters were opened throughout western Washington and Oregon as temperatures plunged into the teens and forecasters said an arctic blast would last for several days. Sunday’s snow showers blew into the Pacific Northwest from the Gulf of Alaska, dumping up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) across the Seattle area. Interstate 80 remained closed due to poor visibility and heavy snow from the Nevada state line to Placer County, California.

Severe weather sweeping parts of the U.S. has brought frigid temperatures to the Pacific Northwest, heavy snow to mountains in Northern California and Nevada, and unseasonable warmth to Texas and the Southeast.

"If you do not need to be out and about today, please stay home," the Washoe County Sheriff's Office said.

Parts of California are getting a White Christmas after all, with snowfall pounding mountains across the state. A 70-mile (112-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 80 was shut Sunday from Colfax, California, through the Lake Tahoe region to the Nevada state line. The California Department of Transportation also closed other mountain routes while warning of poor visibility and slippery conditions for drivers. "Expect major travel delays on all roads," the National Weather Service office in Reno, Nevada, said on Twitter. Friday night into Saturday, 20 inches (50 centimeters) of snow fell at Homewood on Lake Tahoe’s west shore.

A major Christmas weekend storm caused whiteout conditions and closed key highways amid blowing snow in mountains of Northern California and Nevada, with forecasters warning that travel in the Sierra Nevada could be difficult for several days.

A major Christmas weekend storm caused whiteout conditions and closed key highways amid blowing snow in mountains of Northern California and Nevada, with forecasters warning that travel in the Sierra Nevada could be difficult for several days. A 70-mile (112-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 80 was shut Sunday from Colfax, California, through the Lake Tahoe region to the Nevada state line.

Parts of California are getting a White Christmas after all, with snowfall pounding mountains across the state.

Parts of California are getting a White Christmas after all, with snowfall pounding mountains across the state. Other areas of California, however, saw a wet and rainy Christmas as storms continue to drench the state, causing flash flooding and evacuations in some areas over the holiday period. At Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada, officials with the University of California, Berkeley's Central Sierra Snow Laboratory wondered on Twitter if the recent snowfall could break the snowiest December record of 179 inches (4.6 meters) set in 1970.

Searchers using an avalanche probe found Eric Goepfert's body "under deep snow" at the base of the Ebersbacher Ledges.

California Storm A road grader clears mud and debris along a closed E. Santiago Canyon Road at the intersection of Modjeska Canyon Road in eastern Orange County, Calif., as a winter storm brought heavy rain, high winds and flash flooding to Orange County and Southern California Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. By Tuesday afternoon, 8.1 inches (20 centimeters) of rain had fallen in one area of the central coast's Santa Barbara County. The storm began over the weekend in Northern California and brought heavy precipitation as far inland as Nevada, where more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) of snow fell at the Mt. The system built on the progress of a massive rain storm in October, particularly in Northern California, said Michael Anderson, the state climatologist. If storms don’t continue through the winter, the effect of this storm on the drought will be “muted,” Anderson said.

California has emerged largely unscathed from drenching rainfall and heavy snow in the mountains as it prepares for a weaker round of storms likely to bring more relief to the drought-stricken state.

Rain is drenching Southern California as a blustery storm charged down the state, triggering river rescue efforts and raising the threat of mudslides in areas scarred by wildfires.

California's interior is hot and dry and the forecast calls for a risk of fire-starting dry lightning as thousands of firefighters already have their hands full with wildland blazes.

Tens of thousands of people forced to flee South Lake Tahoe because of a California wildfire could begin to return to their homes.

Last week, managers overseeing the fight against the massive wildfire scorching California’s Lake Tahoe region thought they could have it contained by the start of this week.

The Caldor Fire near Lake Tahoe can be measured in more than acres burned.

Fire is forcing thousands of people to rush to leave South Lake Tahoe as the entire California tourist city comes under evacuation orders.

Thousands of firefighters are trying to box in a California wildfire that is advancing toward Lake Tahoe and has shrouded the popular vacation spot in ash and yellow smoke.

Ash is raining down on Lake Tahoe and thick yellow wildfire smoke is blotting out its famous postcard views of mountains surrounding pristine blue waters.

More than 13,500 firefighters are working to contain a dozen large California wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to flee.

Pacific Gas & Electric says it has begun shutting off power to about 51,000 customers in 18 Northern California counties to prevent wildfires.

Federal wildlife officials have decided to list the Sierra Nevada red fox as an endangered species.

Smoke and ash from massive wildfires in the American West have clouded the sky and led to air quality alerts on parts of the East Coast.

Firefighters are struggling to contain an exploding Northern California wildfire under blazing temperatures as another heat wave hits the U.S. West this weekend.

Dozens of aftershocks have hit the area between Northern California and Nevada on Friday after a magnitude 6 earthquake the day before.

The makers of the Dream Chaser spaceplane are inching closer to its first space flight, which will culminate with a space shuttle-style landing at Kennedy Space Center.

An atmospheric river storm pumped drenching rains into the heart of California on Thursday as blizzard conditions buried the Sierra Nevada in snow. (Andy Richard/Caltrans District 9 via AP)LOS ANGELES – Evacuations were ordered Thursday in wildfire burn areas prone to mudslides as an atmospheric river storm pumped drenching rain into Southern California while blizzard conditions buried the Sierra Nevada in snow. The system then dropped into Southern California, bringing threats of flash floods and debris flows to areas scorched by recent blazes. Scenic Highway 1 was closed near Big Sur after a section of the roadway collapsed when the cliffside below gave way amid torrential rain. The atmospheric river is part of a major change in weather for California, which had significant drought conditions for months.

A series of storms will ride down the West Coast of the U.S. bringing lower elevation rain and heavy mountain snow to California. An atmospheric river (narrow green stripe) will set up on the West Coast of the U.S. by the middle of the week producing heavy rain and mountain snow for much of California. An atmospheric river is a narrow flowing column of moisture responsible for producing significant rain and/or snow. These are most common along the West Coast of the U.S. with developing Pacific storms. West Coast StormAn upper-level low sliding down the California coast will induce the atmospheric river allowing for continuous heavy rain and snow for days.

In this photo taken by a drone, homes destroyed by the Mountain View Fire are seen in the Walker community in Mono County, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)LOS ANGELES – A week before Thanksgiving, more than 100 residents were displaced Thursday by a wind-whipped wildfire that ravaged a remote mountain community in California and killed one person, authorities said. By early Wednesday, rain and snow were falling, reducing the fire to smoldering remnants after it scorched over 32 square miles (84 square kilometers). The same ferocious winds, part of winter-like weather that blew into California and Nevada, also sent a wildfire roaring through a neighborhood about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north in Reno, Nevada. The parts of California and Nevada where the wildfires flared are experiencing drought.

TONOPAH, Nev. – The cracked main highway between Las Vegas and Reno reopened Friday, 10 hours after a predawn magnitude 6.5 earthquake that a researcher called the largest to strike the remote area of western Nevada in 65 years. Nevada Highway Patrol photos showed cracks on U.S. 95 before crews repaired them about 35 miles (56 kilometers) west of Tonopah. The vast open range east of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada is seismically active, said Graham Kent, director of the Nevada Seismological Lab at the University of Nevada, Reno. The U.S. Geological Survey reported Friday's temblor struck just east of the Sierra Nevada. “”However, we have learned that other than obvious earthquake damage some damage is discovered later."