Free Republic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A white powder found inside the White House late on Sunday was identified by Washington's fire department and emergency services as cocaine, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The source said the powder was found in the West Wing, but gave no further details. The West Wing is attached to the executive mansion where President Joe Biden lives. It houses the Oval Office, the cabinet room and press area, and offices and workspace for the president's staff.

Snow on Mount Washington in June is not rare. This year, however, snow totals are the highest on record for the summer month and forecasters say more is on the way. On June 11, the Mount Washington Observatory announced 8.4 inches of snow for the month, a new record for the highest peak in the Northeast. The observatory began keeping track of snow totals beginning in 1932. Weather experts predict even more snow in the days ahead. ... Statistically speaking, our last snowfall of the season typically occurs in early to mid-June most years,” the observatory wrote in a Twitter...

Snowfall and rain expected until end of week in Southwest Colorado.. Southwest Colorado residents expecting warmer spring temperatures may want to hold onto their winter jackets a little longer as more snow is expected throughout the week. Yet another atmospheric river is passing through Southwest Colorado bringing snow primarily to the higher elevations. Storms earlier this week have increased Durango’s snow total by 1 to 3 inches, said Scott Stearns, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction. Cortez received about the same amount while Pagosa Springs received slightly more at 5 to 8 inches. Wolf Creek Pass received...

The Red Desert and the larger area surrounding Rawlins is usually a winter haven for wildlife – one of the few places elk, deer and antelope can migrate to where large patches of ground afford at least some forage. That’s not happening this year, and as many as half of the antelope in the area, as well as significant numbers of mule deer, are expected to die as a result, some Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials said. Radio collars are telling a heart-wrenching story in some areas. Game and Fish frequently captures animals to be fitted with radio collars...

More than 9,000 California residents were under evacuation orders Friday as a new atmospheric river brought heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds, swelling rivers and creeks and flooding several major highways during the morning commute. In Santa Cruz County, a creek bloated by rain destroyed a portion of Main Street in Soquel, a town of 10,000 people, isolating several neighborhoods.

Authorities say 12 people have been found dead so far following the historic storms that buried the San Bernardino Mountains under several feet of snow, covering homes and paralyzing travel. “So far, we can only confirm (one), a traffic accident, as weather-related,” San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Mara Rodriguez said Wednesday. “The preliminary information in the other deaths does not indicate they are weather-related, but those investigations are ongoing.” “There’s going to be a lot more,” said Megan Vazquez, a volunteer. “It’s been very cold here. It’s been below freezing, so if somebody didn’t have electricity or gas to...

Officials throughout the Sierra Nevada warned North and South Lake Tahoe residents to prepare for potential roof collapses and flooding ahead of the storm forecast to hit the Tahoe region midday Thursday. "Snow accumulations can fall and harm/kill you, depending on their size," warned the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District via Facebook on Tuesday evening. "Be aware that a roof may collapse with little or no warning," it added. The next storm is expected to hit the Lake Tahoe area Thursday afternoon, bringing warmer and wetter conditions than past storms. Areas below 6,000-7,000 feet — including Truckee and most...

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Parts of California have seen record-setting snow this year. The statewide Sierra snowpack is 192% of the average right now, the Northern Sierra is at 154%, the Central Sierra is 197%, and the Southern Sierra is at 230% of the average for this date. The following ski resorts already have more than 600 inches of snow this season. China Peak: 606 inches Boreal: 610 inches Sugar Bowl: 605 inches Dodge Ridge: 612 inches The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab is reporting that "this is the ninth snowiest year since the Snow Lab was built in...

CRESTLINE, CA — In his ongoing series of investigations into any reports of white powder, Hunter Biden has traveled to the San Bernardino Mountains of California after hearing several feet of such powder had been seen covering the mountaintops. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this," Hunter was heard saying just before he climbed aboard a private jet bound for the Golden State. "As soon as I heard about the white powder, I knew I needed to pack up and come help in any way I can." Regions of California have been experiencing unseasonably cold temperatures and heavy...

Ice warnings for the whole of Ireland have been issued for tonight through to tomorrow morning by Met Éireann and the UK Met Office. Met Éireann issued a Status Yellow ice warning for Ireland until 10am tomorrow and the UK Met Office have a Yellow Snow and Ice Warning in place from 9pm to 10am tomorrow for all of Northern Ireland. Met Éireann warned of hazardous conditions, including icy stretches on roads and paths, due to the freezing temperatures. For Northern Ireland, snow showers and icy patches will likely cause some travel disruption. The outlook is for very cold weather...

Amid a storm that has left residents in the mountains trapped for days after 17 feet of snow was dumped there, California Governor Gavin Newsom has left the state without explanation. The Democrat, considered a potential successor to President Joe Biden by progressives, was reported to be out of California on 'personal travel' Friday, according to Fox News. He is scheduled to return Sunday. Newsom's press office did not disclose where exactly Newsom had traveled to, only to say that before he left the state, he visited Diablo Canyon, its last nuclear power plant, on Wednesday.

Yosemite National Park remains closed indefinitely as startling photos show popular parts of Yosemite Valley buried in snow. Heated tents in Curry Village and a shuttle stop near Yosemite Falls, both highly trafficked locations even during the cold season, were blanketed in snow. The park originally closed to visitors last weekend as severe winter weather approached the Sierra Nevada. The storm ultimately dumped "up to 15 feet" of snow in some areas of Yosemite, the park noted on Twitter, and created whiteout conditions across the region over several days. For its part, Yosemite Valley tallied 40 inches of snow Tuesday...

Hail, light snow and graupel have reached areas across the southern counties, including Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego and Riverside. Most winters, the rest of the country might be envious of the weather conditions in Southern California — where locals enjoy Christmas with perfect weather and the misery of shoveling snow is nonexistent for city dwellers. But this year, even Angelenos are not immune to snow, as white patches surround the Hollywood sign and graupel reaches the Happiest Place on Earth. “Right now we have really cold low pressure moving over Southern California ... bringing these scattered showers...

Snow flurry in Long Beach

Snow drifting all the way to the top of the powerlines, haven't seen this since I was a kid.

Despite the record-breaking scale of the blizzard pummeling Lake Tahoe, it seems some drivers are still a bit confused about the conditions of the area’s roads — or at least that’s the takeaway from some of the increasingly direct messaging coming from area CHP and sheriffs' offices around the Tahoe Basin. Officials in surrounding areas of the Sierra Nevada issued equally direct messages for drivers, including the Mono County Sheriff's Office, which told drivers Tuesday morning: “The roads are closed. All of them. There is no alternate route, back way, or secret route. It's a blizzard, people. You cannot see...

We all want uninterrupted postal service, but that's just not always possible. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has a responsibility to ensure the safety of its employees, customers, and our mail. And sometimes, that means operations can't proceed normally. Over time, we have seen the Postal Service suspend deliveries because of aggressive animals, and close post offices in the midst of natural disasters. Now, the agency been forced to suspend services in six different states. If you were planning to head to the post office anytime soon, you may need to change your plans depending on where you live. The...

East Bay residents didn’t have to brave dangerous driving conditions to get to Tahoe to enjoy some snow this week. They didn't even have to go any further than Berkeley's Tilden Regional Park to go skiing Friday morning. After a mix of rain and snow overnight, snow was accumulating in earnest by 6:30 a.m. By midmorning, there was enough to (sort of) enjoy winter sports. Twitter user Jay Sayre posted multiple videos of him skiing in the Berkeley regional park, which reaches about 1,900 feet in elevation at its highest point. exp-player-logo Sayre even managed to catch some air near...

“If you are experiencing this heavy dust substance at your residence, per the office of emergency management, remain inside and turn off any devices that introduce outside air into your residence,” the post continued. “Responders will not be responding for sightings of this substance, unless a medical emergency or another type of emergency is present.”

The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) on Monday warned that a "massive winter storm" is anticipated to impact a large portion of the United States this week and present a range of hazards. ... The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) on Monday warned that a “massive winter storm” is anticipated to impact a large portion of the United States this week and present a range of hazards. The arctic blast is starting to hit the Pacific Northwest and then push across the northern Rocky Mountains and onto the Great Plains. It will bring heavy snow and strong winds, the National...