California enters May with cold weather system

LOS ANGELES – California is beginning May with an unsettled and chilly weather system that could bring showers, thunderstorms and mountain snow.

The National Weather Service office in Hanford urged campers and hikers, especially those heading out on the Pacific Crest Trail, to gear up for cold, thunderstorms and possible snowy conditions above 6,000 feet (1,829 metres) through Wednesday.

Forecasters say snow is even possible in the mountains of Southern California late Tuesday through early Wednesday, with showers elsewhere. Temperatures will be well below normal.

The unseasonable weather is due to a trough of low pressure moving through the state. A rapid warmup is expected later in the week.