There are 16 snow reporting stations in the Sierra. All have reported more than 100% of the 30-year average full season total snowfall. Leading the way is China Peak in the central Sierra, which has reported 516 inches of snow, 172% of the full season average
That’s just insane. By my high school math, 516 inches equals 43 feet of snow.
Chicago had the biggest snow ever in 67 when I was a kid.
Us kids thought it was the best winter ever!!! The drifts were so high we could run around house roofs. So many tunnels built in our neighborhood looked like an ant colony.
Um, Dads didn’t feel the same way. They had to shovel a path out of our houses and our elderly neighbors houses to the street and then a pathway down the street.
After about a week our neighborhood ran out of food and the Dads shovel out to plowed road, went to our elderly neighbors to get their grocery list, took all their kids sleds and walked miles to a grocery store to get their neighbors fed. My Dad set that up. The local paper even interviewed him.
He taught me “Do unto others” is number one. And food hoarding is probably a good idea.
Best winter and my love for Dad went sky high.
Mammoth Lakes/Mammoth Mtn. (top of) reporting 696” (58’) and 498” (41.5’) at main lodge. More on the way.
In 2017, much snow fell in May. That year, there was 220% of normal/average precipitation. 2018, saw 70% of normal, and 2019, was 140% of normal.
2020, 2021, and 2022, were subpar/below average - to way below average snow years.
Mammoth Mtn. reports: “We have received 498” of snow at Main Lodge this season and 646” at The Summit.The snow could be heavy at times.” And yes China Peak as well as Solitude in Colo. get a ton of snow.
Nicely summarized.
While the epic drought won’t be relieved any time soon, it is gratifying to hear about deep snowpack levels. Every bit helps.