California To See First Back-To-Back Above Average Snowpack Years In Over A Decade
Yesterday, Weather Analyst Colin McCarthy at U.S. Stormwatch posted something on X (twitter) that has skiers' eyes wide.
The Storm Chaser wrote that three storms will hit California over the next 10 days, dropping 2-5+ feet of snow across the Sierra and bringing widespread moderate rain across much of the state.
Three storms will hit California over the next 10 days, dropping 2-5+ feet of snow across the Sierra and bringing widespread moderate rain across much of the state.
This series of storms guarantees that California will see its first back-to-back above-average snowpack years… pic.twitter.com/AtgVSNDYKG— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) March 21, 2024
Even crazier, McCarthy wrote that "this series of storms guarantees that California will see its first back-to-back above-average snowpack years since 2010-2011. Winter is not done yet."
We all know California had an insane season last year. Maybe you know someone who skied 12 out of 12 months, or skied a resort that stayed open 'til July.
This season, which started out slow, may turn out similarly due to the upcoming storms California is predicted to see.
As McCarthy reminded us, the 2010/2011 season in the Sierra Nevada was anomalously snowy. The season before, 2009/2010, was also well above average.
Mammoth Mountain, CA, for example, saw 557.9 inches in 2009/10, followed by 668.5 inches in 2010/11.
Will this winter end with as much snow as last season in California? Probably not. But could it still be above average in terms of snowfall? This forecast allows us the possibility of not only daydreaming, but having a reason to do so.
Related: Many Watersheds Across Western United States Above 30-year Normal
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