CALIFORNIA, USA — The second snowiest season on record might not be too far away.
The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab has been monitoring snowfall records since 1946. The station is located off I-80 near Donner Pass with an elevation of 6,894 feet. They specialize in snow hydrology, physics, meteorology and climatology.
As of this morning, the lab reported the 24 hour snow total of 10.6 inches, with a 7 day total at 72 inches. This now puts the lab at a snow total of 603.15 inches since Oct. 1, the start of the water year.
Compared to the 10 snowiest seasons over the last 77 years, 2023 ranks fifth. It now beats out 1969 as the fifth snowiest.
The National Weather Service is forecasting 36-48 more inches Thursday to Sunday, with an additional 18-24 inches possible Monday to Tuesday.
If the Donner Pass location receives the maximum amount through next week, that would put the area up 72 more inches. If all the forecasts prove true, the end amount could be as high as 675.15 inches of snowfall.
Only time will tell how much snowfall the Sierra could continue receiving, but as of now, the Climate Prediction Center is showing the west coast at above average precipitation this time of year.
The snowiest year recorded at the Central Sierra Snow Lab was 812” in the year 1952.
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