• California is enduring severe winter weather as unusual amounts of snowfall and strong winds across the state have damaged highways and roads and trapped some residents in their homes.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in 13 counties affected by the storms.
• The state's emergency agency and private weather forecasters in January said that damage from weeks of storms and flooding in California could surpass $1 billion.

California is enduring more severe winter weather as storms continue to unleash unusual snowfall and strong winds across the state, damaging highways and roads and trapping some residents in their homes.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday evening declared a state of emergency in 13 counties affected by the storms. Disaster response and relief will be provided to the counties of Amador, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Sonoma and Tulare. 

The state's emergency agency and private weather forecasters in January said that damage from weeks of storms and flooding in California could surpass $1 billion.

Over the past week, mountainous regions have been inundated with a barrage of snow. In the San Bernardino Mountains, snowfall blocked roads and stranded residents in their homes as crews worked urgently to clear the roads.

Some ski resorts were forced to close due to blizzard conditions, and Yosemite National Park has shuttered indefinitely in recent days due to 15 feet of snow in some higher-elevation areas. The floor of the Yosemite Valley reached a record 40 inches of snow on Tuesday.

Snow-capped San Gabriel mountains in LA County

SoCal residents dig out from snow

Before and after satellite images show snow covering SoCal mountains

Rare sight of snowy mountains beyond Hollywood sign

Angeles Crest Highway shuts down in both directions

Some residents are still trapped in San Bernardino Mountains area

Yosemite National Park is closed indefinitely