Sierra Snowfall Hits Record Low: What Snow Drought Means For Tourism, Water Supply (PHOTOS)

Last January, Chief of California Coorperative Snow Surveys Frank Gehrke bundled up against the elements and took the season's first snow measurement -- a whopping seven feet -- at Echo Summit near Lake Tahoe.

But on Tuesday, Gehrke sported khakis and a light sweater as he stood in the dry grass.

(SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS)

"I think this pretty much tells the story of how bare and dry things are," said Gehrke to the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza. When all was said and done, Gehrke came up with a paltry one seventh of an inch -- the lowest measurement ever recorded at Echo Summit.

Anyone in the western United States has surely noticed the complete lack of snow, but the results of Tuesday's report were staggering, and they are not unique to California. According to the National Resource Conservation Service, snowpack in Idaho is the lowest it has been at this time of season in over 20 years.

"It's just been a really quiet winter so far across the country," said Gehrke.

Fortunately, according to weather.com, last year's record storms resulted in a surplus of water for the west this year. But should the dry season continue, the western states could be left with difficult questions about next year's water supply. And the Sierra tourist industry which depends almost entirely on snow, is already reeling.

"It really impacts us," said one South Lake Tahoe shop owner to KCRA. "I would say 60 to 70 percent [of the shop's annual income]."

Check out the lack of snow in the western United States in this graphic by weather.com. (Move mouse over image to compare snowpack on January 4, 2011 to January 4, 2012. Images courtesy of NOHRSC.gov/NOAA.) Then see more alarming images, courtesy of the National Snow Analysis, in our slideshow below. Main image courtesy of Flickr: mith17.

Comments

[sam520]

11:49 AM on 01/10/2012

Don't worry about global warming. With Iran getting nuclear devices, how far off is nuclear winter?

[Laughert9]

04:48 AM on 01/08/2012

Please don't call it "climate change"...it's GLOBAL WARMING. the former is George Bush's warm, fuzzy name for it. Makes it sound less like it's OUR FAULT.

[sam520]

12:55 PM on 01/07/2012

On the brighter side, think of all the heating fuel $ that they're saving over there this winter...........

[draken54]

11:30 AM on 01/10/2012

Not really that bright.

[Roadrun]

09:50 AM on 01/07/2012

Boy do I hate to say it but it sure looks like California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma are going to just burn all summer. I thought last summer was bad, and it was, but this isn't looking pretty.

[niko73]

01:34 PM on 01/06/2012

From what I'm hearing, there will be a la nina again this year. This means warmer temps and lots of snow for the Rocky Mountains, just like last year. So if you live in the west (with the exception of the southwest), you'll see plenty of snow.

[Steelheadangler]

01:36 PM on 01/06/2012

El Nino is warm and wet, La Nina is cold and dry.

[niko73]

02:25 PM on 01/06/2012

It all depends where you're at. Some regions have/will experience drought and some have/will see more moisture. The La Nina is continuing from last year into the spring this year. If you live in the west, which I think you do, you know how much snow we got last year--snowpack levels were up to 400% in some areas of MT, WY, CO, ID, etc. But the southwest was extremely dry.

There are some maps here that show how different regions are affected by El Nino/La Nina.

http://www.globalweathercycles.com/elninoforecastgwo.html

Here's an article and map explaining how much of the states will see above normal snow during this continued La Nina:

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/meteomadness/snow-forecast-for-the-winter-of-20112012/53551

The map shows heavy snow for MT, WY and CO again this year, but the researcher writes: "The mountains in the West should see the normal amount of snow and not the extreme snow that fell last year" I guess he's talking about regions of the Rockies outside of the heavy snow areas.

[TaiJi2]

11:50 AM on 01/06/2012

We obviously drew too much snow last year (35 feet for the season on North Shore!!!!!) and now we have to pay down the balance. Rats. I was hoping for another couple of seasons like that to fill the Lake back up. Sure glad that ski lease fell through!

[baxtron]

11:46 AM on 01/06/2012

no snow on the ground in MN in January. 48" below average. there's still time. maybe.

[JScott]

10:30 AM on 01/06/2012

Jeez folks just conserve water and quit popping out so many humans.

It's not rocket science.

[baxtron]

11:45 AM on 01/06/2012

you're speaking to the wrong crowd. other industrialized nations follow this practice.

[marshhen]

07:59 AM on 01/06/2012

People here need to do their homework, including the author of this article. Please look up la Nina, and the pacific decadal oscillation, which is currently in the negative phase. The combination historical brings warm dry weather to the southwest and large storms to Alaska. In fact, one is developing this weekend.

[niko73]

01:32 PM on 01/06/2012

Yes. La Nina is supposed to make for another wet late winter/spring for the Rocky Mountains, similar to last year.

[eaarth2]

05:20 AM on 01/06/2012

these snow droughts will become more common in years to come.

[skraeling]

01:19 AM on 01/06/2012

While the flag waving yahoos are busy demanding trllions for stupid wars, missiles, drones, etc, we are staring catastrophe in the face and thinking this is all very normal..Last year, entire stream systems in Montana dried out for the first time in history, yet, the concern was for sport fishing....Instead of building missiles and making wars for oil and Israel, we should be developing desalination plants that are freasible.
But no...in a year we will be fighting for water....just wait....

[Linus521]

01:04 AM on 01/06/2012

Here in Janurary, it has been 83. Unseasonably warm during our raining season with no rain. Strange... hot and dry. weird.

[Barb Hatfield]

12:48 AM on 01/06/2012

I can't lie, I enjoyed the blue skies and warm weather today in early winter in western Ky where there should be frozen ground and possibly snow, I had to transport dogs to be rescued so it was nice to ride the 75 miles of my leg of the trip with the windows down. I already miss the cute little Yorkie that rode up front with me!

[zombywulf]

11:04 PM on 01/05/2012

What global warming??

[Barb Hatfield]

12:45 AM on 01/06/2012

That cracks me up because every time the temp drops below 40 dad starts in with that "where's your global warming now"? I've tried to explain the origin of the term and how climate change in one place may effect the climate in another in a much different manner but he just thinks all scientists are a bunch of tree hugging hippies. Oh well, he's almost 80, whaddya gonna do? right? LOL

[Roadrun]

09:47 AM on 01/07/2012

I can't deal with those types. If you try to tell them that when it doesn't get cold on earth anymore there won't be any humans around to complain about it they always give you this "I know more than all scientists put together" look.

[skraeling]

01:20 AM on 01/06/2012

If this continues, you are about to find out...

[olitenup]

10:37 PM on 01/05/2012

We are having April weather in the northern mid-west.

[skraeling]

01:20 AM on 01/06/2012

94 yessterday in LA.....