Series of Storms Brings Needed Snow

As I write, the latest in a series of storms that started earlier this week is crawling over the Sierra. So far, we've only gotten a few snow flurries down here in the Truckee Meadows. This one may give us an inch or two, but the really important action is up around Lake Tahoe and Truckee. From several inches to a foot of the white stuff are predicted to fall, which is good news for our currently meager snow pack. More good news is that the snowfall should continue through the President's Day weekend.

Before these storms, the snow pack in our major drainages was below average and shrinking as we went through an unseasonably warm and sunny January. On February 11, the Truckee River was at 70 percent, the Lake Tahoe Basin was 74 percent, and the Carson River was highest at 84 percent. Rain and snow during the remainder of the season are going to have to be way above normal to make a significant dent in the cumulative shortage racked up during the last two below average years. With any luck, we'll be hearing about much better numbers after the next SnoTel measurements.

Meanwhile,here are some reports from area ski resorts, as of February 11.

• Northstar-at-Tahoe: 22 in. last 72 hours
• Squaw Valley: 22 in. last 72 hours
• Heavenly: 27 in. last 72 hours
• Alpine Meadows: 31 in. last 72 hours
• Boreal: 28 in. last 72 hours
• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: 10 in. last 72 hours
• Diamond Peak: 18 in. last 72 hours

Source: Western Regional Climate Center and OnTheSnow.com

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