Lake Tahoe = 2nd Worst Snow Year on Record | 44% of Average

Lake Tahoe, California has just recorded three low snow winters in a row.  This winter was the second worst snow year in recorded history on Donner Summit, CA.  For skiers and snowboarders, it’s been a brutal experience.

In 2011/12, Donner Summit, CA saw 322″ of snow putting that year at 81% of average, which doesn’t sound so bad.  It was the fact that it didn’t snow at all until January 20th that made that season bleak.

In 2012/13, Donner Summit, CA saw 213″ of snow putting that year at 54% of average.  Which looks bad.

To date in 2013/14, Donner Summit, CA has seen only 174″ of snow putting that year at 44% of average.  Which we know is hideous.

I talked with Randall Osterhuber at the UC Berkeley’s Donner Summit snow laboratory today and all he could really say about this year was that at least it wasn’t the worst season on record…

“At this point, we’re in 2nd place behind 1977, which was our driest year.  We were behind 1977 in January, but we caught up a little in February.” – Randal Osterhuber, lead scientist at UC Berkeley’s Donner Summit Snow Laboratory

With the wet season just about coming to a close in California, it’s nearly official at this point:  Lake Tahoe, CA just experienced its 2nd worst winter on record.

SNOW STATISTICS FOR DONNER SUMMIT SNOW LAB as of APRIL 22nd, 2014:

SNOW:

Snowfall to Date = 174″

We’re at 44% of average snowfall for today’s date

SNOW DEPTH:

Snow Depth to Date = 3″ [note, there were 0″ since April 18th, we got 3″ last night]

Average Date that Snow Depth Goes to 0″ = May 23rd

PRECIPITATION:

Precipitation to Date = 32″

Average Precipitation for Today’s Date = 46″

We’re at 68% of average precipitation for today’s date

notes:  The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Laboratory is located at 6,900 feet above sea level on Donner Summit, California.  A water year starts on Oct. 1st and ends on Sept. 31st.

SnowBrains would like to thanks Randall, UC Berkeley, and the entire Central Sierra Snow Lab crew for all their hard work and years of excellent snow data that we’re all so addicted to.  And for putting up with our calls to get all this great information.  Thanks.