In yet another ominous indicator of the planet's potentially catastrophic future, the normally majestic hills of Mount Shasta have lost almost all of their luscious and iconic snow.
"The first time at least in any person’s memory that there’s been no snow left on Mount Shasta," Jan Null, adjunct professor of meteorology at San Jose State University, told KCBS Radio. "The top has sometimes been referred to as a glacier, but that’s been all melted now."
The mountain’s volcanic peaks, usually smothered in white, are now a reddish brown color with just a few faint specs of snow visible from afar.
Null called it a clear example of climate change advancing and propelling society into a different world.
"Maybe we need these sorts of visual reminder for things that are locked in our consciousness," he explained. "Having that snowcapped Mount Shasta, and with that snow not there, maybe it's least a wake up call for many."
Previously snow drenched settings are also forecasted to have similar futures.
"The projections are that we will have more periods of warmer and drier weather," Null said. "I think some of the areas that had perpetual snow in the past, we’re going to see some of the areas disappearing."
In addition to being a popular climbing, hiking and skiing location, and the mountain's snowpack helps feed Shasta Lake, a key water source for much of the Central Valley.
How much work must be done to stop the stunning images from becoming permanent?
"It’s going to take a lot of adjustments to stop the melting… to reverse it will take well past our generations for sure," Null said.
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