Axios

The fierce blizzard that battered California's Sierra Nevada mountains for four days dropped more than 100 inches of snow in some locations.

Why it matters: The extreme snow totals cut off some mountain towns and shut down I-80 for days, but it will greatly improve summer water resources.

A new open letter out Monday calls for further actions to cut emissions of short-lived pollutants such as soot, methane and refrigerant gases.

Why it matters: These substances warm the climate over far shorter time periods than carbon dioxide and are key to achieving short-term climate goals.

March has barely begun, and the West is coping with a ferocious blizzard, while Texas is battling its largest wildfire on record.

Why it matters: These extremes are occurring against the backdrop of a record warm U.S. winter of 2023-24, and milestone-setting global warmth as well.

A blizzard warning was in effect until midnight Sunday for parts of the Sierra, as the massive winter storm disrupts travel in portions of California and Nevada.

The big picture: The "potentially life-threatening" blizzard which began slamming parts of the Sierra Nevada on Thursday was gradually waning on Sunday evening ahead of another storm expected on Monday night.