Meteorological Records 2023

By Christina Reed The Hired Pen

Eastern Sierra, CA—It’s been labeled “the winter that just doesn’t want to end” by the National Weather Service, Reno, Nevada, and for many in the eastern part of California, it’s been “one of the heaviest—if not, the heaviest precipitation ever experienced in California,” according to CalMatters.org. With another storm due to arrive this week, weather-weary residents can only imagine what each of the nearly 13 atmospheric rivers, since last year, will mean to their daily lives. Many are struggling with unimaginable amounts of snow, some have suffered avalanche destruction of their homes, and many have suffered losses due to flooding...and the runoff hasn’t started yet. Some residents have been trapped in their homes (especially in southern California’s mountain communities), and the heavy snow fall kept them from being able to clear snow fast enough.

As the news stories unfold, the residents of the state of California are bracing for the possibility of more rain and snow into April. The California snow pack is rivaling the 1982-1983 winter (the largest on record), and the Department of Water Resources estimates the California snow pack is above the 200 percent mark. The southern Sierra Nevada range is 269 percent above normal; the central Sierra is 228 percent of normal, and the northern Sierra is 178 percent of normal. UC Berkeley’s Snow Lab, in the Central Sierra (Soda Springs), has records for the past 77 years, and some records date back to the Southern Pacific Railroad’s time, in the 1880s. The meteorological records show 1952 with 812 inches of snow, followed by 2023, with 677 inches (so far); 1983 records indicate 671 inches, followed by 2011 with 643 inches, and 1982, with 624 inches.

Massive Spring Runoff and Flooding Not a New Event in California

“Spring flooding,” says water experts, could be overwhelming, and people aren’t seeing the risks, and they are “seriously underestimating the risk.” Warmer temperatures and heavy snowfall cause rapid snow melt, which leads to a quick rise in creeks, rivers, lakes, and streams’ water levels. Bishop has overflow channels to help alleviate some of the snow melt. However, the other mountain communities are already overwhelmed with snow, much less the flooding to occur once the snow melt has started. Parts of Round Valley have remained flooded for weeks, with some Mono County residents (Paradise and Swall Meadows) having to drive the long, and tricky dirt road around Round Valley, just to get back on the paved road to their homes.

California’s Great Flood, a “megaflood,” took place from December 1861 to Janu- ary 1862. It rained for 45 days straight, with parts of San Francisco, Los Angeles (66 inches of rain in two months), and San Diego being most affected. Some places in the Central Valley were under 30 feet of water. Sacramento traditionally suffers extensive flood damage, and Nevada also listed the Great Flood of 1862, as well as Oregon. Other notable flooding periods include 1938 and January 2005.

Today, Mammoth Lakes, CA is buried under an overwhelming amount of snow, and by some estimates, there could be 52 feet of snow around the town. Mono County is enduring its “coldest winter on record,” says Dawn Johnson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Reno, Nevada. And, Reno, Nevada, has had the most snow days ever (since 1921-1922), with 32 days of snowfall. Reno has also had the 11th snowiest season (valley floor), and it hasn’t hit 65 degrees, since November 1, 2022.

Property damage includes structural failure due to snow loads, which are exceeding the common snow load abilities. For example, one cubic square foot of snow can weigh between four pounds (light and dry snow) and 20 pounds (very heavy wet snow), and ice build-up must be added to the overall weight. Most homes in the mountains are built to withstand about 20 pounds per cubic square foot. However, these same mountain homes cannot withstand layers of snow more than 30 feet high. And, at the end of the winter season, there could be a substantial number of homes which will be “red tagged,” as uninhabitable. Home propane tank explosions, due to snow loads on the propane tanks, have caused a number of homes in California to collapse, including the recent propane tank explosion in Mammoth Lakes, CA, at a luxury condo complex. This explosion caused five people (one critically injured) to become trapped and injured in the unit’s collapse under the weight of snow.

More snow is on the way, and residents are advised to pay attention to the details of each storm. Remain vigilant in snow removal, especially fire hydrants and propane tanks. These emergencies are being acerbated by the lack of snow removal by residents, or by second-homeowners’ inability to get to their homes and remove snow. Residents in the lower elevations need to stay vigilant for runoff and roadway and property flooding, which then creates a cascading series of natural disasters. Sand bags are available, and proper placement of sand bags can help divert the flood waters. Remember your neighbors property doesn’t need your flood waters and debris in their yards either, so plan according when placing your prevention measures.

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