On NPR they had an account that implied that highly unusual weather in the area allowed very light and fluffy snow to blow into the electronics where it shorted things out when it melted. Such areas are usually ventilated to allow cooling but are typically protected by being under a deep overhang and protected by louvers that would stop rain and snow. At least your typical snow. Evidently the snow was so light, dry and fluffy that it blew in past the louvers.

I suspect that installing screens behind the louvers, to slow air movement so the air drops any precipitation, and adding a conformal coating to the electronics, to protect them from any moisture, might solve this problem. These things are pretty common strategies in a marine environment.

Adding such product improvements is pretty commonly necessary as complex machinery is exposed to different conditions. many of our most reliable devices have had rough development paths before all the kinks were worked out.