Sierra Nevada snow survey finds 0.14", lowest ever recorded

[Newsjock]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/03/BAE71MKAPB.DTL&tsp=1

It was supposed to be a winter slog through a blanket of white, but the first Sierra snow survey of the year today was really just a nice stroll through a meadow.

Frank Gehrke, the chief snow surveyor for the California Department of Water Resources, might have had better luck counting butterflies than taking snow measurements at historic Phillips Station off Highway 50 near Lake Tahoe.

He nevertheless managed to find a small patch of white shaded by trees that he dutifully measured for water content. The result, 0.14 of an inch, was the lowest amount in January since measurements began in 1964 at the privately owned cabin near the Sierra at Tahoe resort, where the results of the monthly snow surveys are traditionally announced.

... There was almost as much snow in the Sierra on July 4 as there is now, and some say the skiing was also better in the summer.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

1. I cannot believe the snow situation up in the Sierras --

My Mom has lived there 20 years and we have never seen anything like it -- to be dry for Thanksgiving AND Xmas -- just crazy. Beyond the ecological implications, it is also killing a town that never recovered from the Angora Fire and is reeling from the housing crash. Poor Tahoe is dying.

[FirstLight]

8. ya...sad

there's alot of locals up here that feel the same way. he town is literally dying. Never seen so many commercial places for lease... and i too have lived here 20 yrs...

the snow, or lack thereof, is creepy, it was almost 60 today! At this rate, i'd be happy to just skip fwd to summer, but that's me, i am a snow-phobe, lol

i have a lot of friends who are losing work because of the weather and economy here too. what's weird, is that last year, we got SLAMMED and were still dealing with snow in JUNE... it's as if the year-wheel is off kilter and the winter is now from feb-june :nuts:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. Last year was crazy snow wise --

I take care of my Mom's garden for her and it was so cold so late in the season that the plants barely had time to get going before the fall freeze happened! 60 degrees -- totally nuts for this time of year. But, I would also say, SF is unseasonally dry and warm for this time of year as well. As for jobs and spaces for lease -- every time I go up to visit I see more and more storefronts available. The number of foreclosures is insane, too -- my Mom's house has lost $150k in value because of the excess housing glut. Bad times, for sure.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. This is really scary.

The majority of California's water comes from the Sierras and to have it be this dry now, is just not good news at all.

We do get some from the Colorado River, but less and less...

There is still a chance to recover, IF we have a series of very big storms that bring heavy wet snow.

*Fingers crossed*

[hunter]

4. Floods are scary too.

I'm being very careful about what I wish for...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. If you live on a flood plain, and many people do, then that is scary too...

I don't live on one.

I live in a virtual desert, and lack of water is scary.

[Blacksheep214]

3. Here's what's insane.

Southern California communities built with lawns and thirsty neighborhood landscaping.

These geniuses really need to visit Sedona to see how true desert landscaping is done.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Back in the day, there was plenty of water.

And of course, there weren't as many people. Nobody ever thought that there would be the drought that exists now.

We have been working very hard to hold our water consumption down for over 10 years now...

Low flow toilets and showers have made a difference.

Many communities now encourage home owners to use native materials when planting yards. And there are ways to use drip irrigation even in lawns.

I agree that we could certainly do more.

However, you are painting with a rather broad brush.

[Blacksheep214]

7. Broad brush?

Wait til you see the developments along the 126 and up in the Tejon Pass. Farm and grazing no more.

Instead of being a watershed it will be a runoff.

Come visit Santa Clarita, especially Valencia. A typical Newhall Land development. Repeat ad infinitum.

The problem is the cost of water rising due to these nightmares.

[SpiralHawk]

10. Drought spread far and wide across North America in 2011. It looks like...

...the way things are going, 2012 is going to make 2011 look damn splashy by comparison.

[bhikkhu]

12. Though the sierras did fine last year (winter 2010/11)

In southern oregon we had a wetter than normal winter, and farther south it was even wetter. The year was a good one for agriculturalists here.

Of course, one dry winter and its a whole different world...

[NNN0LHI]

11. Ø snow on the ground here about 40 miles south of Chicago today

I don't recall anything like this happening before. Maybe it has, but I sure don't remember it.

Don