Over 10 Feet of Snow in Tahoe Brings Snowfall Totals Above Average After March Blizzard
A powerful blizzard in Tahoe brings snowfall totals above average in just 4 days, leaving behind massive amounts of snow and causing power outages and road closures.
Blizzard Leaves Behind Massive Snowfall and Chaos
The blizzard that hit the mountains of California over the weekend has finally started to taper off, but not before leaving behind a trail of chaos. Huge amounts of snow covered the area, leading to power outages, closed roads, and buried ski resorts.
One ski resort in California, Sugar Bowl, reported a staggering 127 inches of snow from the storm as of Monday morning. Other resorts in the region also experienced significant snowfall, with totals ranging from 100 to 120 inches.
The National Weather Service recorded wind gusts of up to 190 mph during the peak of the blizzard, causing whiteout conditions and leaving hundreds of people stranded in their cars for hours. Nevada, Utah, and Colorado also faced heavy wind gusts and snow.
Sierra Snowfall Exceeds Average Levels
The weekend snowfall in the Sierra Nevada region pushed the snow totals above average for the water year. At the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory in Donner Pass, California, over 6 feet of snow accumulated since Thursday.
Snowfall is typically measured from October 1 to September 30, and this storm has significantly boosted the snowpack and water supply. Andrew Schwartz, lead scientist at the Central Sierra Snow Lab, stated that while they have seen storms with higher snowfall, the strong winds accompanying this blizzard were noteworthy. The winds were so powerful that they caused trees to fall on houses and power lines, leaving some neighborhoods without electricity for three days.
