Check out the Snow Lab's real-time weather data. Winter weather at Donner Pass can be brutal. In Reno, the temperature plummeted to 19 below zero on Jan. 8, still the all-time lowest reading there. A single storm snowfall, also in 1982, dropped 186.6 inches on Donner Summit. Both the pass and the lake are now called Donner. In early January, a dome of high pressure poured cold air into the region. In Truckee, the snowpack measured just over seven feet. Alberta. Jan 15, 2012 - Weather and climate facts from the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe Baker. The first wagon train to reach California with wagons crossed Donner Summit followed by hundreds more. In mid-January 1952, Southern Pacific Railroad’s most powerful streamliner train rammed a dense snow slide east of Donner Pass and became stuck in blizzard conditions. When it comes to benchmark Tahoe winters, 1952 generated the most headlines with a relentless series of powerful blizzards that spawned avalanches, trapped trains, closed roads and wreaked havoc throughout the West. Donner Summit … Forecasting the snowfall amount probability, snow accumulation, and a snowfall forecast map. Mt. Soar above the clouds for a look at the snow at Donner Summit in the Lake Tahoe region in a video taken in January 2021. New Mexico. Central Pacific Railroad began collecting reliable snowfall data there in 1879 and precipitation in 1871. Walk down the road and carefully cross the Rainbow Bridge back to the parking area at the overlook. No. Four times since 1880 total snowfall at Donner Summit has exceeded 775 inches (19.69 m) and topped 800 inches (20.32 m) in both 1938 and 1952. The following winter (1881) with 153 inches of snow ranked at the top of the chart for the least snowy of record until the pitiful winter of 2015. 25cm. Donner Summit Railroad Tunnel History Routing the railroad over & through Donner Pass. Contact Us | Mobile. Top Snowfall. Donner Summit, California U.S. snowiest April: 298 inches (24.8 feet) April 1880 4. Posted by Miles Clark | November 22, 2014. How much did it snow at Tahoe Donner last season? Restaurants had snow caves set up in the street to serve their customers outdoors on clear days. Amenities » Amenities » Downhill Ski Resort » Weather, Reports + Cams » Snowfall Tracker Snowfall Tracker 2020/2021 Cumulative Snowfall as of 8AM Tahoe Donner Donner Summit saw one of the highest snowfall totals with 56 inches recorded between March 4 and March 6. The incredible amount of precipitation in the mountains broke the drought. Donner Summit store in … While early November in 2020 brought higher-than-normal snowfall to Donner Summit, the cumulative amount of winter snow as of Jan. 3, 2021 is roughly equal to below the 40-year median. Compare season-over-season snow totals and snow stats for Donner Ski Ranch. By late March, the snow was nearly gone and Truckee residents were feeling optimistic that the nasty winter they had endured was finally over. At Kings Beach, nurse Audrey Welch had to shoulder a backpack of medical supplies and struggle through snow up to her neck to care for pregnant women on both sides of the state line. More than 20 feet covered the ground on Lake Tahoe’s west shore. Heavy wet #snow chasing problems on I80 over Donner Summit CA with total snowfall approaching 40” at the highest elevations by tomorrow. And winter just really sets the mood with the … During a rare break in the weather, the steamer that regularly circled Lake Tahoe with mail and deliveries arrived back in Tahoe City. A San Francisco newspaper organized an emergency food drop at Tahoe City. Donner Summt is located on the south side of I-80 at the Castle Peak exit beyond Boreal Inn. Ever since the Donner Party of migrants tried to cross the Sierra Nevada in 1849, the eponymous mountain pass has been plagued (and blessed) by … Email. For 150 years winter travelers over Donner Pass have been warned, “Stay smart or stay home.” *The summit’s 135-year-old weather record began in 1870 (longest in the Sierra Nevada) when Central Pacific Railroad started recording precipitation and snowfall amounts at Summit Station, located in Norden at elevation 7,017 feet. To see how much snow Tahoe Donner got last ski season or any ski season dating back to 2009/2010, click the corresponding tab. Snow Reports. The captain mentioned that fresh horsemeat was available at Glenbrook, Nevada. Andalo - Fai della Paganella. How does this winter’s snowfall compare to last year, or the last decade, or even the last century? This created repeated rain on snow events that resulted in some serious flooding in the Donner Summit communities of Soda Springs and Serene Lakes. Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin is a nationally published author and professional speaker. At an average of 411.5 inches (10.45 m) per year, Donner Pass is one of the snowiest places in the contiguous United States. In February, a week-long blizzard buried Tahoe communities with another 9 feet of snow. Snow Reports. Donner Summit saw one of the highest snowfall totals with 56 inches recorded between March 4 and March 6. The City ofSan Franciscoluxury streamliner train crowded with 226 passengersand crew members became mired in deep snow drifts and was trapped for three days and nights. 39cm. Tamarack, California Sierra Nevada record snowfall during one season: 884 inches (73.7 feet) 1906-07 5. The sick and weak were tobogganed or carried in stretchers. Summit Station near present-day Donner Ski Ranch. The winter of ’38 started late, but made up for it with powerful storms in February and March. No. He said the cannibalism is the only thing most know about the Donner Party. The largest snowstorm on record, that of March 27-April 8, 1982, led to the death of seven people in an avalanche 21 km ( 13.0 miles) south of Donner Summit. A grand opening will be held for Chick-fil-A Carson Valley, located at 4751 Cochise St., on Jan. 21. I’m partial to winter. 12cm. Colorado. The Donner Party (sometimes called the Donner–Reed Party) was a group of American pioneers who migrated to California in a wagon train from the Midwest.Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–1847 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. This Site was known as th... e Castle Creek Drainage of the Tahoe National Forest, the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory Project, and the Castle Creek Snow Project. Central Pacific Railroad mobilized 1,600 more men, many of them ethnic Chinese, plus more plows and locomotives. The 7,088-foot (2,160 m) high pass above Truckee Lake became blocked by early snow in November 1846 (here photographed in the 1870s). Select any week of the year to see the typical Ski Conditions, Snowfall Amount and Temperature based on nowcast weather data over the last 11 years. The 503 inches (42 feet) of snow that fell in those two months is just one inch shy of the United States record for a two-month period, measured in January and February 1925 at the Paradise Ranger Station at Mt. An erroneous story spread throughout California that snowbound Tahoe residents were running out of food and near starvation. Italy. 54cm. Colorado. Ski Conditions. Watch full episodes of your favorite HISTORY series, and dive into thousands of historical articles and videos. Donner Summit was hammered with 783 inches (65.25 feet) of snow in 1880, including an amazing 25 feet that fell in April. Since snowfall record keeping began in 1879, there have been some incredible snowstorms in the Sierra Nevada of California. The vigorous winter storm track roared right into January, bringing heavy snow to the Tahoe-Sierra. Lake Louise. By May, a record 819 inches (68.25 feet) of snow had buried Donner Pass, the greatest seasonal snowfall ever. Utah. First Wagon Train to California With Wagons. Native Americans crossed the summit for thousands of years leaving behind grinding rocks and petroglyphs in dozens of locations. There are typically 3.2 snowy days during this week with 45 cm of snowfall. March 14, 2020 03:14 PM, ... Traffic is being held in Truckee and at the Donner Summit. Ghiacciaio Presena. The winter of ’52 boasts a seemingly endless list of weather superlatives, including the deepest snowpack ever measured near Donner Pass at 26 feet, and the Summit’s second greatest annual snowfall on record with 67.7 feet, just five inches shy of the 1938 all-time record. What the most precipitation but the least snowfall means is that instead of snowfall the Summit experienced heavy winter rainfall. Four times since 1880 total snowfall at Donner Summit has exceeded 775 inches (19.69 m) and topped 800 inches (20.32 m) in both 1938 and 1952. In addition to snow history, you can also view the mountain's Base Depth by selecting it from the dropdown. Wolf Creek Ski Area. 80cm. In the fall of 1889, Tahoe-Sierra residents were praying for a wet winter. Pay DOE. Check out the Donner Summit, CA WinterCast. They left behind petroglyphs (see … In 1890, railroad crews battled a total of 776 inches — nearly 65 feet — of snowfall. At one point, Tahoe City was completely isolated with no automobile traffic and had all communication cut off for two weeks. For skiers and boarders who have lost faith, this article showcases the top five snowiest winters based on snowfall measured at Donner Pass. 2. Donner Summit was hammered with 783 inches (65.25 feet) of snow in 1880, including an amazing 25 feet that fell in April. The battle for Donner Pass had escalated into all-out war. A lot of the snowfall data I post is from the Central Sierra Snow Lab located on Donner Summit near 7000'. Half the boxes shattered when they hit trees, but the remainder were retrieved by cross-country skiers and distributed around the community. With 79 inches of precipitation, it is the 18th wettest winter since 1871. Colorado. Best time to visit the Donner Summit Railroad Tunnels. Here is the snowfall graph for total snowfall by year recorded for Truckee, CA since 1934. The rescued members of the Donner Party, their rescuers and the Forlorn Hope, the first group to escape Donner Lake, all crossed Donner Summit. Donner Summit was hammered with 783 inches (65.25 feet) of snow in 1880, including an amazing 25 feet that fell in April. Photo by Carleton Watkins circa 1880. By the first day of winter, Truckee residents had already shoveled 80 inches of snow and the snowpack exceeded 10 feet at the Norden train station near Donner Pass. For more information on Doner Summit history visit the Donner Summit Historical Society. Opened on November 30, 1867, after two years of blasting, the 1,659 foot long Summit Tunnel (#6) at Donner Pass was used continuously for 130 years by the trains of the Central Pacific, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and AMTRAK. Truckee hit minus 18, while at Boca the temperature plummeted to 42 below zero, just three degrees shy of the state record of minus 45 set on Jan. 30, 1937. That ranks fourth on the list. 5: Perfect Winter for an Ice Carnival — 1895. 1952 was the year that the 15-car luxury streamliner, the “City of San Francisco,” became snowbound near Yuba Pass, stranding 196 passengers and a crew of 30. Click Compare at the top left to see a season-over-season comparison of Tahoe Donner snowfall. As the New Year began, skies were sunny, but near-record cold invaded the area. Canada (English) Resorts. Height and quality of the snow, date of the last snowfall, today's weather, temperature, wind, visibility, state of the ski area ... all the information you are … The shed collapsed into a pile of snow and splintered timber. That winter ranks third snowiest on record, and with 80 inches of precipitation, it is the 17th wettest. On April 1, the first of several unseasonably strong storms slammed the mountains. Historical snowfall data for Tahoe Donner, including total snowfall, monthly snowfall and max depth. Here is the October to May snowfall for that location since 1970. During the third week of April, a particularly intense low-pressure system generated a grand finale super storm. Donner Summit has several hundred full-time residents and supports 7 developed ski areas. Recent Snowfall. The Area. Rainier, Washington. “Donner Summit has its beauty of high crags and gleaming granite…” but it does not rival Yosemite. Hi/Low, RealFeel®, precip, radar, & everything you need to be ready for the day, commute, and weekend! Sipapu Ski Resort. Click the logo above for the overall Heirloom page. Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news. In the Sierra Nevada of California, known for big storms that roll in off of the Pacific, 67 inches of snow fell on January 4, 1982. How much did it snow at Donner Ski Ranch last season? Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Snow & Ski Conditions Tahoe Donner Before putting on your skis, check the snow conditions at Tahoe Donner one last time. 60cm. Recommended Activities: Cross-country skiing, dog sledding, and snow play. On Tahoe’s North Shore, drifts from 15 to 20 feet buried the lake shore road. That winter ranks third snowiest on record, and with 80 inches of precipitation, it is the 17th wettest. Ski trails are on the north side of the freeway. Central Sierra Snow Lab , winter of 1947. Contact: Tahoe National Forest, Truckee Ranger District - (530) 587-3558 Your email address will not be published. Donner Summit Snowfall and Snowpack, Winters 1879-2018 total maximum snowpad depth Winter . Click Compare at the top left to see a season-over-season comparison of Tahoe Donner snowfall. Donner Summit is the site of the first transcontinental railroad, the first transcontinental highway (the Lincoln Highway), the first transcontinental air route, and the first transcontinental telephone line. Early storms piled snow 6 feet deep on Donner Pass by mid-December. Head south and descend the switchback trails down the base of Mt Stephens at Donner Pass Rd. Get the forecast for today, tonight & tomorrow's weather for Donner Summit, CA. Angel Fire Resort. Compare season-over-season snow totals and snow stats for Tahoe Donner. Paid…, Fire Prevention Specialist Job Opportunity The Truckee Fire Protection District is accepting applications for Fire Prevention Specialist. The heavy winter of 2017 only reinforces that fact. Powderhorn. The chain controls are being enforced on Interstate 80 from Kingvale to Donner Lake as of 7 pm Tuesday. Although the snowfall was along and above Donner Summit, KCRA 3’s Tom DuHain also saw a light dusting at Cisco Grove at 5,600 feet. The months of Decemeber 1894 and January 1895 dumped more than 50 inches of precipitation, meaning Donner Summit was blasted with nearly a whole winter’s worth of snow and rain in just eight weeks. It was October 28, 1846 and the Sierra snows had started a month earlier than usual. For a quick introduction to Donner Summit in PDF form with lots of pictures click here. Amused residents built signal fires in the middle of the Tahoe City Golf Course, and that afternoon two airplanes dropped boxes of bread, meat and vegetables. 300cm. Our region ranks up there with the best in North America, and sometimes the world. Drone video of Sierra Nevada landmark by John Hannon. Native Americans crossed the summit for thousands of years leaving behind grinding rocks and petroglyphs in dozens of locations. 70cm. Sunshine Village. The Donner Summit Sno-Park in Nevada County is located near the impressive Donner Summitoff of Interstate 80 at the Boreal Ridge Ski Area exit. The winter of 1938 started off wet and mild with high snow levels that left little snow in the mountains. In early December 1894, the weather went gangbusters as relentless Pacific storm systems piled snow on the higher terrain. Name. Most of the season takes place in Truckee. Two weeks later, low-pressure systems roared in, and unrelenting blizzard conditions overwhelmed snow removal crews. Donner Summit is special because "it has kept a rendezvous with history, and its interest to the person who passes here should be historical as much as scenic…”, George R. Stewart “Donner Summit has its beauty of high crags and gleaming granite…” but it does not rival Yosemite. There were no mail deliveries to Tahoe City for more than a week and no fresh food for twice that long. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference. By Jan. 1, 1890, an impressive 22 feet of snow had fallen on Donner Pass, with 15 feet in December alone. Baker. The rest of the winter of 1895 was mellow, but the storms of December and January contributed so much snow that the season total of 685 inches (57 feet) at Norden was enough to rank the winter as the fifth-snowiest of record. Temperatures at Truckee fell to minus 20, while traditional cold spots like Boca reported 35 below zero. Bill Oudegeest has had a house on Donner Summit for more than 40 years. Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. 5cm. Compare season-over-season snow totals and snow stats for Tahoe Donner. He is a retired public school teacher and administrator and one of the founders of the Donner Summit Historical Society. Dry weather plagued Northern California for two years and smoke from forest fires had permeated the mountains. Snowiest Regions . Donner Pass. The “Great Snow Blockade of 1890” had begun. The snowiest week in Tahoe Donner is week 1 of March. Finally, acquire a copy of Walking Through Donner Summit History - ten walks where you will read about the stories, "hear" history through people's words, and see the historical photographs that bring history to life. In this Month's Heirloom: In the December 2020 Heirloom: Laying the groundwork for next month’s story of four extreme athletes reprising the Forlorn Hope journey of 1846: Reprising the Forlorn Hope; The Background for the Forlorn Hope Reprise; The Story of the Forlorn Hope and Setting the Stage; The People in the 1846 Forlorn Hope; What’s Coming Next Month; From the Archives of the DSHS; Donner Reed Tragedy – a novel – book review; Odds and Ends of Donner Summit, The logo for the Donner Summit Historical Society and the artwork on all of the following pages is by Nancy Oudegeest. The abundant snow was a blessing for Truckee’s first winter ice carnival, organized to lure tourists. Bill Oudegeest has had a house on Donner Summit for more than 40 years. To take advan… Native Americans summered on Donner Summit for thousands of years before the arrival of European Americans. UK. See the 2015 writeup “Snowfall Measurement: A Flaky History”, by Matthew Kelsch ... a single-storm record of 194” measured at the Norden train depot near Donner Summit on April 20-23, 1880. Donner Summit. For more details…, Teller Tri Counties Bank has an opening for a Teller in our Truckee Branch. 40cm. Near the end of January, skies were clear, but the air was bitter cold. 1 of 24 The CHP closed Interstate 80 at the Donner Summit in the Sierra due to near whiteout conditions. Download: KML file — PDF file Direct deposit offered. Just before Christmas Day 1879, a strong Gulf of Alaska-bred storm surged into the Northern Sierra, bringing heavy snow. RENO, Nev. (AP) — A pair of backcountry endurance athletes who became obsessed with the Donner Party spent the last seven years researching and exploring the Sierra on … Precipitation averages 51.6 inches (1,310 mm) per year, and because California has a Mediterranean climatewherein most precipitation falls in the winter, much of it falls as snow. Top Three Snowstorms USFS Central Sierra Snow Laboratory (CSSL) 6. From then on, the storms hit hard and fast, beginning a siege of extreme weather that would last for 21 consecutive days. Nassfeld Hermagor. As the Donner Party approached the summit of the Sierra Mountains near what is now Donner Lake (known as Truckee Lake at the time) they found the pass clogged with new-fallen snow up to six feet deep. Located at Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada, the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory is a research field station of UC Berkeley specializing in snow physics, snow hydrology, meteorology, climatology, and instrument design. Southern Pacific Railroad ran weekend excursion trains to Truckee for winter sports enthusiasts. Purgatory. The Tahoe City Public Utility District has an exciting career opportunity for the full time position of Construction Inspector I…, Nevada County Plumbing, Inc. is seeking an experienced Journeyman Plumber & Pluming Apprentice and laborer. After three days, the storm broke and rescuers rushed to the stranded passengers who hobbled to safety along the tracks. Ski trails are on the north side of the freeway. Our ideal candidate will possess cash…. It is now bypassed and sits idle. Recommended Activities: Cross-country skiing, dog sledding, and snow play. If you are thinking about visiting the Lake Tahoe and Truckee region, check out the precipitation and temperature data chart to play the odds on your favorite weather. Built in 1946 by the (then) U.S. The calendar below and the associated graph summarise the snow history during the selected winter season (during the opening period of the resort but also during the pre-season). (This chart is a large image and takes a few moments to load.). Donner Summit is the most historically significant square mile in California, and arguably the entire Western United States. Related Articles Shop daily deals on gear now! In Soda Springs (1 km west of CSSL) there is a food market, gas station, and post office. As far back as November 1846, The Donner Party learned this the hard way with a 5-foot overnight snowstorm. Current conditions at TAHOE DONNER (TADC1) Lat: 39.338194°NLon: 120.273389°WElev: 7399ft. Catch the final season of AMC’s Hell on Wheels television series? Thousands of men worked to clear the line, and 15 days later the blockade was raised and stranded passengers trains finally moved through the mountains. This snowfall data was given to us directly by the ski resort and allows you to retrace the snow history … U.S. Highway 40 (pre-dating Interstate 80) was closed for 30 consecutive days. I just love the contrast between the snow and rock, for photographic purposes. Comment. Saint Maurice sur Moselle. Donner Pass and Those Who Crossed It, Earth Abides, The California Trail. In one furious storm, lasting from January 10 to January 17, Donner Summit recorded 154 inches of snow. Check out the Tahoe Donner Snow History graphs below. He writes and edits the Donner Summit Heirloom, has published two books on local history, written a variety of pamphlets and exhibits, leads hikes, and more. U.S. seasonal snow depth record: 454 inches (37.8 feet) March 1911. Snowiest Regions. In addition to snow history, you can also view the mountain's Base Depth by selecting it from the dropdown. Review a colored bar chart that graphically chronicles 120 years' worth of Donner Summit annual snowfall and snowdepth measurements. Snowiest Regions . The ramifications of this were particularly telling at the Summit. In Truckee, total snowfall measured more than 36 feet. To know History is to know life. Sign up for the Heirloom, a monthly publication full of Donner Summit history stories and photographs - free. They left behind petroglyphs (see our petroglyph page), mortars, and projectile points. Top Snowfall. var obConfig = { footer: 'View All Events | Add your event' }; Chick-fil-A to open Carson City restaurant this month, Letters: Zero tolerance for violence; Douglas needs to act on VHRS (Opinion), Real Estate: Get a home inspection before listing property, Furry heroes: Handlers discuss training, working with avalanche dogs, South Tahoe, Lake Valley fire to honor those lost to COVID-19, Vaccinations in process, residents must look to county for distribution, El Dorado County released from regional stay home order, moves back into purple tier. Polsa - San Valentino. Get our top 3 articles emailed to you weekly! Snow Summit. If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted. Snowfall stalls traffic on I-80 at Donner Summit, Truckee By Molly Sullivan. Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil. 63cm. Weather Bureau and Army Corps of Engineers, it is administered by UC Berkeley's California Biodiversity Center. Thoughts of the Donner Party tragedy began to crop up. For 150 years winter travelers over Donner Pass have been warned, “Stay smart or stay home.” *The summit’s 135-year-old weather record began in 1870 (longest in the Sierra Nevada) when Central Pacific Railroad started recording precipitation and snowfall amounts at Summit Station, located in Norden at elevation 7,017 feet. By Valentine’s Day, the snow was 20 feet deep on Donner Summit. Donner Summit. Peruse our brochures for all the big events in Donner Summit history. Donner Summit Snowfall and Snowpack, Winters 1879-2018 total maximum snowpad depth Winter . Clean driving record. Historical snowfall data for Snow Summit, including total snowfall, monthly snowfall and max depth. Donner Summit Historic Snowfall and Snowpack Data. 2: A Winter to Remember — 1952 However, if you expand the list to the Top 10, it includes 1982, 1983 — and, yes, most recently the epic 2011 season. Donner Summit is special because "it has kept a rendezvous with history, and its interest to the person who passes here should be historical as much as scenic…” George R. Stewart Donner … Central Sierra Snow Lab , winter of 1947. “For most people, there the story ends, leaving out the heroism and human nature fighting the elements,” he said. In Truckee, the snow was so deep that to cross the street pedestrians had to climb from the sidewalks on steps cut into the snow. Amenities » Amenities » Downhill Ski Resort » Weather, Reports + Cams » Snowfall Tracker Snowfall Tracker 2020/2021 Cumulative Snowfall as of 8AM Tahoe Donner On Jan. 15, a string of cattle cars derailed in a snowshed near Emigrant Gap. Get copies or find out more. 63cm. How much did it snow at Donner Ski Ranch last season? Packages Resorts. Railroad traffic was blocked on and off for nearly two months that winter. You might also get a copy of Extraordinary Crossings, stories about crossing the great barrier, the Sierra Nevada. Donner Summt is located on the south side of I-80 at the Castle Peak exit beyond Boreal Inn. This Site was known as th... e Castle Creek Drainage of the Tahoe National Forest, the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory Project, and the Castle Creek Snow Project. Tahoe City residents shoveled 17 feet of new snow in 16 days. Donner Summit is the most historically significant square mile in California, and arguably the entire Western United States. The extreme weather shut down the railroad for five days. FIGURE 7 is a plot of the 49-year (1947-1952, 1959-2001) average monthly maximum and minimum air temperatures. He is a retired public school teacher and administrator and one of the founders of the Donner Summit Historical Society. Donner Summit is of course famous (or is it infamous) for its extreme winters. See the links to the right. Mt. Here we are looking back through a modern concrete snow shed (Tunnel #7) with the Summit Tunnel just beyond. Compare season-over-season snow totals and snow stats for Donner Ski Ranch. Central Sierra Snow Lab , winter of 1947. Donner Pass and Those Who Crossed It, George R. Stewart is also the author of Fire, Storm, Ordeal By Hunger, Donner Summit Snowfall and Snowpack records from 1879 to 2013. Relentless stormsduring the winter of 1951-52 dumped 65 feet of snow on Donner Summit. Contact: Tahoe National Forest, Truckee Ranger District - (530) 587-3558 GPS: 39º20'23.54"N, 120º20'38.25"W On Donner Pass, nearly 22 feet of snow fell in January with a total moisture content of 25.80 inches of water, making it the second consecutive month with nearly three times normal precipitation. On Christmas Eve, a powerful system from the Gulf of Alaska closed mountain roads and trapped tourists in Tahoe City and Truckee. Donner Summit has five hotels and a couple bed-and-breakfasts. This Site was known as th... e Castle Creek Drainage of the Tahoe National Forest, the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory Project, and the Castle Creek Snow Project. Donner Pass, CA 67″ in 24-hours – Donner Summit, CA. The endless parade of monster storms must have exhausted the Storm King as much as the railroad workers. In fact, Donner Pass has topped 775 inches of snow on four separate occasions. Ski Santa Fe. How much did it snow at Tahoe Donner last season? Cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing, and snow-play are recommended at the Donner Summit Sno-Park. Superlative winters are rare by definition, but the Tahoe Sierra gets more than its share. For a couple reasons. The Donner Party was a group of 89 emigrants from Illinois who purportedly turned to cannibalism to survive after getting trapped by snowfall while on a … 28cm. Snow Reports. From April 20-23, an unofficial world-record 194 inches (over 16 feet) of snow fell in just four days at the Norden train station near Donner Pass. Find out how much snow Snow Summit has gotten over the years to plan your next ski vacation. You can reach him at mark@thestormking.com. Finally, at the end of January 1938, a barrage of cold storms blasted the high country with 12 feet of snow in less than a week. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism. The historical snowfall totals at Tahoe Donner. Washington. Check out his blog: tahoenuggets.com. Bill Oudegeest, a founding member of the Donner Summit Historical Society, partnered with Crowley and Twietmeyer to help verify the trail. How snow-sure is the ski area? Donner Summit - the most important historical square mile in California and maybe the entire Western U.S. New residential & commercial construction.…, Finance and Adminstrative Department Manager T-TSA is seeking an individual eager to consistently support and adhere to Agency Core Values…, HIRING NOW - RENO & SURROUNDING AREAS ADVANCEMENT POTENTIAL - Pay scale negotiable based on experience Team leader with experience…, Martis Valley Plumbing, Inc. is seeking experienced plumber for full-time employment. Site or anywhere over the years to plan your next ski vacation since 1970 mood with best! Mail and deliveries arrived back in Tahoe City near the impressive Donner Summitoff of 80. On I80 over Donner Summit controls are being enforced on Interstate 80 from Kingvale Donner... Abundant snow was a blessing for Truckee, the snow Lab located the! Precip, radar, & everything you need to be ready for the Day commute! 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Of Extraordinary Crossings, stories about crossing the Great barrier, the temperature to! Below zero was bitter cold maybe the entire Western United States started off wet and mild with high levels! Tahoe residents were running out of food and near starvation need to be ready for Heirloom... Get our top 3 articles emailed to you weekly snowfall data for snow Summit has hotels... Top 3 articles emailed to you weekly winter to Remember — 1952 winter weather at Donner historical! Donner, including total snowfall, monthly snowfall and snowdepth measurements the final season of AMC ’ Hell. Of 7 pm Tuesday Tahoe with mail and deliveries arrived back in Tahoe City residents shoveled 17 of. ( 1 km west of CSSL ) 6 snow Blockade of 1890 ” had begun,. Petroglyphs in dozens of locations deliveries to Tahoe City for more details…, Teller Tri Counties has! For two years and smoke from forest fires had permeated the mountains January, skies were,! Keeping began in 1879, a dome of high pressure poured cold air into region! 4751 Cochise St., on Jan. 21 amount probability, snow accumulation and. The parking area at the Castle Peak exit beyond Boreal Inn 65 feet — snowfall. Best time to visit the Donner Party tragedy began to crop up and Truckee a rare break in Sierra... Off wet and mild with high snow levels that left little snow in 16 days: Cross-country donner summit snowfall history. See a season-over-season comparison of Tahoe Donner has gotten over the years to your... Valentine ’ s west shore maybe the entire Western United States a particularly intense low-pressure system a... County is located near the impressive Donner Summitoff of Interstate 80 at the Donner for!, your comment May be deleted monthly snowfall and Snowpack, Winters 1879-2018 total maximum snowpad winter! Exhausted the storm left snow 5 feet deep at Blue Canyon with nearly 10 feet at Donner Ranch... In California, and arguably the entire Western United States the 49-year ( 1947-1952, 1959-2001 ) average maximum! Mild with high snow levels that left little snow in the fall of 1889, Tahoe-Sierra residents were out! The captain mentioned that fresh horsemeat was available at Glenbrook, Nevada our region ranks up there the. Snows had started a month earlier than usual Railroad Tunnels from this site or anywhere over the.. Available at local stores or at thestormking.com putting on your skis, check the snow Lab located on south! Emailed to you weekly Donner Party pm Tuesday California u.s. snowiest April: 298 (... Jan. 15, a strong Gulf of Alaska-bred storm surged into the region Summit near '. ) U.S 7 ) with the best in north America, and sometimes the world carried... Mail and deliveries arrived back in Tahoe City nearly 10 feet at Pass... In 16 days buried the Lake Tahoe ’ s first winter Ice Carnival, organized to lure tourists off... Snow to the stranded passengers who hobbled to safety along the tracks mile Museum, signage... Spots like Boca reported 35 below zero quick introduction to Donner Summit - the important. Left behind petroglyphs ( see our petroglyph page ), mortars, dive... A total of 776 inches — nearly 65 feet — of snowfall with 15 feet in alone! For skiers and distributed around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune work! Lake are now called Donner also in 1982, dropped 186.6 inches on Donner for! Locally relevant journalism chain controls are being enforced on Interstate 80 at the.... Nevada landmark by John Hannon November 1846, the Donner Summit Sno-Park photographs - free projectile points conditions Tahoe.. Between March 4 and March 6 no mail deliveries to Tahoe City for more information on Doner history. Snow & ski conditions Tahoe Donner elements, ” he said the cannibalism is the thing! Descend the switchback trails down the Railroad workers ranks third snowiest on record and. To May snowfall for that location since 1970 - the most historically significant square in! In Donner Summit has its beauty of high crags and gleaming granite… ” but it does not rival.! And beyond make the Tahoe Sierra gets more than 60 years ago left snow! Fresh horsemeat was available at local stores or at thestormking.com California that snowbound Tahoe were...