Tahoe 2012/13 = 50% Average Snowfall, 22% Average Snowpack as of Today | Central Sierra Snow Lab Numbers

I just got off the phone with the Randall Osterhuber at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Laboratory.  He gave me his impressions of the 2012/13 winter thus far and all the numbers on Cumulative Snowfall, Snow Depth, and Precipitation for the 2012/2013 season.  We all know it wasn’t a great year, but it’s good to look at the numbers.  The numbers don’t lie.

note:  The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Laboratory is located at 6,900 feet above sea level on Donner Summit, California.

“January & March are our highest snowfall months and this year both those months were well below average.” – Randall Osterhuber

QUICK SNOW LAB NUMBERS  as of ARPIL 4th, 2013:

– 50% of normal Cumulative Snowfall

– 22% of Normal Snow Depth

– 85% of Normal Precipitation

Why so high for precipitation?  Because we got a lot of rain, not snow, at the Snow Lab.

When I asked Randall to tell me how this season was unique, he had some interesting remarks:

“One of the main factors this year is the huge discrepancy in snow depth per elevation.  Here at 6,900 there isn’t much snow, but up above 7,500 feet there’s still quite a bit of snow on the ground.” – Randall Osterhuber

“Those big, early season storms in December left mostly rain here at the snow lab.” – Randall Osterhuber

“Most of the snow on the ground here today fell pre-Christmas.” – Randall Osterhuber

“January & March are our highest snowfall months and this year both those months were well below average.” – Randall Osterhuber

2012/13 CENTRAL SIERRA SNOW LAB STATISTICS as of APRIL 4th, 2013:

SNOWFALL:

– Average Cumulative Snowfall Total for Today’s Date = 417 inches (1060 cms)

– Cumulative Snowfall this Season as of Today = 208 inches (528 cms)

– 2012/13 currently is at 50% of Normal Cumulative Snowfall for Today’s Date

SNOW DEPTH:

– Average Snow Depth for Today’s Date = 134 inches (340 cms)

– Snow Depth Today = 30 inches (75 cms)

– We’re at 22% of Average Snow Depth for Today’s Date

PRECIPITATION:

– Average Precipitation for Today’s Date =  43.3 inches (1100 mms)

– Precipitation as of Today = 36.8 inches (935 mms)

– 2012/13 currently is at 85% of normal precipitation for Today’s Date

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.