New snowstorm hits Sierra Nevada as 'March Miracle' continues

The Los Angeles Times ^ | March 12th, 2016 | Veronica Rocha and Soumya Karlamangla

[Mariner]

Several feet of new snow is expected in the Sierra Nevada mountains this weekend as another El Niño-influenced storm moves into Northern California.

In what some are calling a "March Miracle," the Sierra have been hit by a series of powerful storms this month. That's important because the Sierra snowpack is a key source of water for California, which is in its fourth year of a drought.

The storms have boosted the snowpack and replenished reservoirs.

Heavy showers pummeled L.A. and Ventura counties Friday afternoon, and forecasters said there was a chance of some light rain in some areas of Southern California through the weekend.

The northern part of the state experienced rain and snow Friday with another storm system expected to arrive late Saturday morning, followed by another Sunday, the National Weather Service in Sacramento said.

[Mariner]

El Nino petered out in February causing fear and loathing as we head into another summer without water.

March has been great.

Jim will even be able to water his peaches.

Fri-Sat-Sun should deposit over 6 feet of new snow over 8,000ft, and last night the wind over the crest was over 100mph.

Welcome to sunny California:)

[Paladin2]

Plus skiing the Sierra Cement will be much better for a couple of weeks.

[Mariner]

"Sierra Cement"

An apt characterization.

It will snow 2ft, then rain an inch on top...and repeat, and repeat again.

Near the top of Donner at 6,500ft they measured 30inches of water in 6.5ft of snow.

Wowsers.

[mad_as_he$$]

Snowing on Donner as I type. Wind still strong out here in the front slope.

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=zmw:89508.1.99999

[Rusty0604]

Good news.

[mad_as_he$$]

http://www.northstarcalifornia.com/the-mountain/web-cams.aspx

[Mariner]

http://www.wunderground.com/us/ca/soda-springs/zmw:95724.1.99999

[crazydad]

Here in Placerville we are loving it. Full lakes for boating this summer.

[Paladin2]

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/webmap/index.html#elements=W&networks=!&states=!&counties=!&hucs=&minElevation=&maxElevation=&elementSelectType=all&activeOnly=true&hucLabels=false&stationLabels=&overlays=&hucOverlays=&mode=stations&openSections=dataElement,parameter,date,elements,location,networks&controlsOpen=true&popup=&base=esriNgwm&dataElement=PREC&parameter=PCTAVG&frequency=DAILY&duration=null&customDuration=&dayPart=E&year=2016&month=3&day=11&monthPart=E&lat=41.129&lon=-108.578&zoom=6

[Mariner]

"Here in Placerville we are loving it."

They are letting some much water out of Folsom dam that they have flooded Discovery Park in Sacramento.

[Paladin2]

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/webmap/index.html#elements=W&networks=!&states=!&counties=!&hucs=&minElevation=&maxElevation=&elementSelectType=all&activeOnly=true&hucLabels=false&stationLabels=&overlays=&hucOverlays=&mode=stations&openSections=dataElement,parameter,date,elements,location,networks&controlsOpen=true&popup=&base=esriNgwm&dataElement=PREC&parameter=PCTAVG&frequency=DAILY&duration=null&customDuration=&dayPart=E&year=2016&month=3&day=11&monthPart=E&lat=41.129&lon=-108.578&zoom=6

Still looking for a plot of snoe vs. weight of SWE.

[Paladin2]

http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/snow/snowplot.cgi?BSKM8

That’s what I’m lookin’ for wrt the Truckee Snotel Station.

[Robert A Cook PE]

And still the liberals in CA DEMAND that the state and EPA and Fish & Wildlife destroy the hundreds of old dams laboriously built in the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.....

[Paladin2]

http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/snow/

These guys apparently do a better job than others.

0bama's fault.....

[Iron Munro]

It’s that horrible, unpredictable climate change!

One day it’s hot - then it’s cold!

One day it’s dry, the next day it rains!

One day it’s snowing - the next day it’s sleet!

Then it gets dark out.
Then it gets light again - Then dark....

The water freezes, it melts, it freezes, it melts...

It’s crazy I tell you!

The government must make it stop !!!

[Dstorm]

I bet white water rafting the South Fork will be fun this year.

[Mariner]

"I bet white water rafting the South Fork will be fun this year."

Sure, if you don't mind 38deg water.

[Paladin2]

This is better:

http://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/reportGenerator/view/customChartReport/daily/834:CA:SNTL|id=%22%22|name~0/CurrentWY,CurrentWYEnd/WTEQ::value,WTEQ::median_1981,PREC::value,PREC::average_1981,SNWD::value,WTEQ::value?fitToScreen=false

Indications of a snow density of but 3:1 is poor. 5:1 is a good minimum.

[Nifster]

Kind of like March of 1983

[Shady]

Glad all of my CA friends will be moist this year!