Funny I always assumed that us up here in Canada got more snow than the USA ( not including Alaska of cource) and for sure I never would have thought about CA! It's always good to learn new stuff! 
I've seen a few pictures but always thought they were photoshopped or something. Maybe not! 
Y'know how the areas on the eastern shores of the Great Lakes always have heavier snow because of the "lake effect?" Well, over here on the West Coast, we have this really big lake. Perhaps you've heard of it - the Pacific Ocean?
Seriously - the storms roll of the Pacific and hit the 10,000+ foot mountains of the Sierras and the Cascades and the mountains just squeeze the moisture out of the clouds like water from a sponge. And because the storms are coming across the water, they're full of moisture - the air is relatively warm because the ocean keeps the air temperatures up and warm air holds more water. That's why our winter time temps are rarely below freezing on the West Coast, at least not until you start going up in elevation.
The East Coast and Midwest don't get near as much snow annually because the majority of storms are coming down from northern Canada, where the air is much colder and can't hold as much moisture. That same cold dry air coming south this time of year meets the warm moist air coming up from the Caribbean to create tornadoes. That's why we don't get tornadoes here, just the occasional water spout.
End of meteorology lesson.
