The Sierra Sun just came out with their “Winter Wrap Up” article for 2011/12. It’s a great article with some great numbers that we’ve displayed below.
To read the full article, please click here: “Weather Window | Winter Wrap Up” by Mark McLaughlin
SIERRA NEVADA 2011/12 SNOW NUMBERS:
– 9 feet of snow fell in March in Tahoe
– Sierra Nevada snowpack at 40% of normal on May 1st
– 77% of normal snowpack in the Northern Sierra (Quincy) as of May 1st
– 35% of normal snowpack snowpack in the Central Sierra (Tahoe) as of May 1st
– 20% of normal snowpack in the Southern Sierra (Kings Canyon) as of May 1st
– 190% of normal snowpack in the Sierra on May 1st 2011
CALIFORNIA’S WATER SITUATION:
– 25 million Californians depend on Sierra snowmelt
– No water restrictions expected for California due to large snow melt last winter and large reservoir reserves
– Reservoir storage in Truckee River Basin was at 128% on May 1st
– 2011/12 was CA’s driest winter in 50-60 years
– 60+% of CA is considered abnormally dry or in a severe drought right now
DONNER SUMMIT SNOW LAB:
– 2011/12 was the 11th driest winter ever recorded
– Precipitation = 1067mm (42 inches) = 88% of average to date
– Snowfall = 818cm (322 inches) = 81% of average to date
– Snow Depth = 0cm