Heavy Snow in Greater Lake Tahoe Area, California

The Central Sierra Snow Lab measured 29 inches of snow in the 24 hours ending 2/18 with a storm total of 67 inches. CO-OP observer at Tahoe City measured a storm total of 37.5 inches with a SWE of 3.38 inches. Truckee Airport measured at storm total of 32 inches.

The first in a series of strong winter storms impacted the eastern Sierra and northeast CA from the 16th to 17th. In this two day period, upwards of 2 to 4 feet of snow fell, and was accompanied by winds upwards of 80-100 mph. Donner Pass, along with other mountain passes, was closed for over a day. Tragically, a large avalanche buried a group of backcountry hikers on Castle Peak during the late morning of the 17th, resulting in 9 fatalities, which set a new California record for the most fatalities from a single avalanche in that state.