Severe winter storms: California in snow emergency

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In Hesperia, California, a good 120 kilometers northeast of Los Angeles, two palm trees stand in front of snow-capped mountains.

In the US state there has been heavy snowfall in the mountain regions in the past few days.

According to California's governor, roads and driveways have to be cleared of snow in many places and the power supply restored in many places.

Photo: Jae C. Hong / dpa

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Swiss Alps?

No, Hollywood!

After a rare snowstorm in southern California, the San Gabriel Mountains are snowed over, with the famous lettering enthroned below.

Yosemite National Park is also struggling with record-breaking amounts of snow, so the reopening of the closed park has been postponed indefinitely.

Photo: Ringo Chiu / ZUMA Wire / IMAGO/

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State Route 138 winds through snow-covered trees near Hesperia.

Rescuers are scrambling to get food and medicine to residents of California's mountain communities who have been left in need by back-to-back winter storms.

Photo: Jae C. Hong / dpa

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Big Bear City in San Bernardino County also experienced one of the largest snowstorms in history.

The supermarket is still open and still has all the goods - but they haven't received a new delivery for almost a week.

Photo: Katrina Kochneva / ZUMA Wire / IMAGO

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More than two feet of snow fell in Big Bear City on February 28.

The next morning a stop sign was as good as snowed over.

In some places, the roofs of houses collapsed under the weight of the snow.

Photo: Katrina Kochneva / ZUMA Wire / IMAGO

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All the fresh snow in Big Bear City has also hit the cars and houses.

The governor on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in San Bernadino County and 12 other counties to support disaster relief efforts.

Photo: Katrina Kochneva / ZUMA Wire / IMAGO

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Clouds, mountains, snow — and the Los Angeles skyline.

Photo: VCG/Getty Images

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Photographers gather near Los Angeles after a cold winter storm to capture the moments.

As California continued to struggle with frigid winter weather, the U.S. Weather Service warned of severe storms and extreme rain in the Midwest that could lead to flooding.

A severe drought and strong winds in turn increased the risk of fires in the southern tip of Texas.

Photo: MIKE BLAKE / REUTERS

aeh/AP/dpa