California, 2008Avalanche in California, December 16, 2008
December 16, 2008 · NWS REV · 1 event in 1 county or zone
One day after a powerful snowstorm deposited up to 4 feet of snowfall in the central Sierra Nevada an avalanche occurred at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort.
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One day after a powerful snowstorm deposited up to 4 feet of snowfall in the central Sierra Nevada an avalanche occurred at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Reno, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 16, 6:51 AM PST, 6 hours 14 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 16, 6:51 AM PST, 6 hours 14 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
651 AM PST TUE DEC 16 2008
.UPDATE...
LATEST SATELLITE PICTURES SHOW SKIES WERE PARTLY CLOUDY OVER MUCH
OF THE AREA WITH ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE SIERRA ZONES. THE
LAKE EFFECT BAND OFF OF TAHOE HAS WEAKENED SINCE 4 AM WITH ONLY
SOME LIGHT SNOW STILL OCCURRING ALONG THE EAST SHORES INTO WASHOE
VALLEY. LAKE EFFECT SHOW ADVISORY WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AS
ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION WILL BE LIGHT AND GENERALLY LESS THAN AN
INCH. UPDATED ZONES WILL BE ISSUED SHORTLY. LOWERED CLOUD COVER
AND POPS MANY AREAS TODAY IN WESTERN NEVADA. ALSO DELAYED WINDS A
BIT WEDNESDAY AS STRONGER WINDS ALOFT AND SFC GRADIENT ASSOCIATED
WITH NEXT SYSTEM DO NOT GET GOING UNTIL WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
&&
.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 415 AM PST TUE DEC 16 2008/
SHORT TERM...
SKIES ARE CLEARING OUT EARLY THIS MORNING AS THE SHOWER ACTIVITY
BECOMES LESS ACTIVE. THERE ARE STILL SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS AROUND
THE AREA THIS MORNING...BUT COVERAGE HAS DROPPED CONSIDERABLY
THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT. A LAKE EFFECT BAND THAT STARTED UP YESTERDAY
EVENING IS STILL COMING OFF LAKE TAHOE EARLY THIS MORNING. THE BAND
HAS WEAKENED AND MOVED SLIGHTLY TO THE SOUTH...AFFECTING THE HIGHWAY
395 CORRIDOR THROUGH WASHOE VALLEY. WILL LEAVE THE LES ADVISORY OUT
THROUGH EARLY MORNING.
WITH THE UPPER LOW SLIDING SOUTHWARD INTO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...WE
WILL STILL SEE SOME INSTABILITY DURING THE DAY AND SOME LIGHT SNOW
SHOWERS ACROSS THE AREA. DEFORMATION ZONE ALOFT WILL MOVE OVER MONO
AND MINERAL COUNTIES...WHERE THE BEST SHOWER COVERAGE WILL BE TODAY.
OTHERWISE...LOOK FOR SCATTERED TO ISOLATED SHOWERS ACROSS THE REST
OF THE FORECAST AREA. SHOWERS WILL END QUICKLY AFTER SUNSET WITH
LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING...AND SKIES BECOMING LESS CLOUDED.
TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE AREA WILL PLUMMET TONIGHT AS SKIES OPEN. WITH
SNOW COVER ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA...NOCTURNAL COOLING IS
MAXIMIZED AND TEMPS WILL DROP INTO THE LOW TEENS AND SINGLE
DIGITS...WITH SOME LOCATIONS IN THE SIERRA INCLUDING TRUCKEE
EXPECTED TO REACH INTO NEGATIVE TERRITORY
SHORTWAVE RIDGING WILL BUILD OVER OUR AREA ON WEDNESDAY...MAKING FOR
A RELATIVELY QUIET DAY OF WEATHER THAT WE HAVENT SEEN IN A WHILE.
BUT THAT WILL BE SHORT LIVED AS THE NEXT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES
INTO THE PAC NW BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MODELS ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD
OVERALL WITH THIS SYSTEM...AS THEY COME INTO BETTER AGREEMENT. IT
LOOKS LIKE THE PRECIP WILL MOVE INTO THE NORTHERN SIERRA BY THURSDAY
DURING THE DAY...SPREADING INTO NORTHWESTERN NV BY THURSDAY NIGHT.
NOT OVERLY IMPRESSED WITH THE MOISTURE OF THE SYSTEM...BUT WITH VERY
COLD AIRMASS STILL IN PLACE..SNOW RATIO SHOULD STILL BE FAIRLY HIGH
AND ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE EASY TO COME BY. WINDS DO LOOK LIKE THEY
COULD BE A BIT OF PROBLEM AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT...WITH 50+ KNOTS
AT 700MB. WITH LIGHT POWDERY SNOW ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA
AND THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG WINDS...WE COULD SEE SOME BLOWING SNOW
CONDITIONS ESPECIALLY ALONG THE SIERRA FRONT AND US-395 CORRIDOR.
THIS CONCERN WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED CLOSELY OVER THE NEXT 24
HOURS. HOON
LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY...
STRONG POSITIVE ANOMALY OVER THE ALEUTIANS CONTINUES TO FAVOR A
POSITIVE TILT LONGWAVE TROUGH OVER NORTH AMERICA WITH COLD SYSTEMS
DROPPING SOUTHEASTWARD IN MEAN TROUGH ALONG THE WEST COAST AND THEN
EJECTING INTO THE CENTRAL U.S. EVERY FEW DAYS. WHILE THE GFS IS
SHOWING DECENT TIMING AND LOCATION OF FEATURES...ITS MASS FIELDS
CONTINUE TO SUFFER ESPECIALLY TOWARD THE END OF THE PERIOD. COLD AIR
SHOULD CONTINUE TO DROP SOUTHWARD AND MEET UP WITH PACIFIC SYSTEMS
AS THEY COME INTO THE WEST COAST AND THE ECMWF SEEMS TO HAVE THE
BETTER HANDLE. TIMING OF FEATURES AMONG THE VARYING MODELS ARE
DECENT NOW THAT WE ARE LOCKED INTO A PATTERN. SO LITTLE CHANGE WAS
MADE FROM PREVIOUS FORECAST WITH REGARD TO POPS/WEATHER. HOWEVER
TEMPERATURES WERE COOLED SOME MORE AND SNOW LEVELS WERE BROUGHT DOWN
SIGNIFICANTLY TO REFLECT THE ECMWF MASS FIELDS BETTER. ON THE OTHER
HAND...THE POLAR AIRMASS COMING SOUTHWARD INTO THE AREA EARLY IN THE
PERIOD SHOULD BE THE LAST OF ITS KIND AS SUBSEQUENT SYSTEMS TAKE ON
MORE MARITIME POLAR CHARACTERISTICS.
STRONG SURGE OF POLAR AIR WILL BE BRUSHING NEVADA AT BEGINNING OF
PERIOD WITH LOW LEVEL 850-700MB THICKNESS FIELDS SHOWING COLD AIR
SLIDING SOUTHWEST AND BANKING ALONG THE EASTERN SIERRA FRIDAY NIGHT.
CLOUDINESS AND SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS FRIDAY SHOULD DIMINISH FAIRLY
QUICKLY FRIDAY EVENING AS A DRIER NORTHERLY FLOW ALOFT FOLLOWS
PASSAGE OF UPPER LEVEL TROUGH. FEWER CLOUDS AND SNOW COVER COMBINED
WITH SHALLOW COLD AIRMASS WILL MAKE FOR A VERY COLD NIGHT WITH MANY
AREAS DROPPING TO SINGLE DIGITS ABOVE AND BELOW ZERO. MINIMUMS WERE
DROPPED SOME MORE BUT MAY STILL BE TOO WARM GIVEN TEMPERATURES IN
SOME AREAS THIS MORNING THAT WERE ALREADY BELOW THE FORECAST LOWS
SATURDAY MORNING. FRIDAY NIGHT COULD VERY WELL BE THE COLDEST NIGHT
IN QUITE SOME TIME ACROSS WESTERN NEVADA AND PARTS OF NORTHEAST
CALIFORNIA. CLOUDS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
AS ANOTHER STORM IN A SERIES OF STORMS APPROACHES THE WEST COAST.
MIXING WILL BE QUITE LIMITED HOWEVER UNTIL LATE SUNDAY WHEN RIDGE
LEVEL WINDS FINALLY INCREASE AND ALLOW FOR SOME WARMING EARLY NEXT
WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN IN THE TEENS AND 20S SATURDAY ONLY TO
WARM A FEW DEGREES SUNDAY UNDER STEEP INVERSIONS AND CONSIDERABLE
MID AND HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS. NEXT SYSTEM WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF
SNOW SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. HOHMANN
AVIATION...
UNSTABLE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE UNDER PASSING UPPER LOW TODAY WITH
SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS AND PERIODS OF MT OBSCUREMENT AND MVFR
CIGS/VSBY. SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE MOST PREVALENT IN THE SIERRA WHERE A
QUICK INCH COULD ACCUMULATE BRIEFLY AT KTVL/KTRK. NO ACCUMULATIONS
ARE ANTICIPATED AT KRNO/KLOL. SKIES WILL CLEAR TONIGHT WITH AREAS OF
FREEZING FOG EXPECTED IN THE SIERRA VALLEYS AFTER 17/08Z. HOHMANN
&&
.REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...NONE.
CA...NONE.
&&
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO
In the hours before
Local storm report, Dec 16, 10:34 AM PST, 2 hours 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1034 AM PST TUE DEC 16 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0828 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 E SLOAT 39.87N 120.72W
12/16/2008 M24.0 INCH PLUMAS CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH
TUESDAY MORNING AT 800 AM.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW MOUNT ROSE SKI AREA 39.33N 119.89W
12/16/2008 M23.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC
ADDITIONAL 3-5 INCHES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS FOR A STORM
TOTAL OF 17-23 INCHES.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 NE INCLINE VILLAGE 39.26N 119.94W
12/16/2008 M13.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL SINCE SUNDAY WAS 13 INCHES OF LIGHT SNOW.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW 2 NNW DONNER SUMMIT 39.34N 120.25W
12/16/2008 M26.0 INCH NEVADA CA TRAINED SPOTTER
RECEIVED 6 ADDITIONAL INCHES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS FOR A
STORM TOTAL OF 26 INCHES.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW KIRKWOOD 38.70N 120.07W
12/16/2008 M48.0 INCH EL DORADO CA PUBLIC
42-48 INCH STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL SINCE SUNDAY.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW ALPINE MEADOWS 39.17N 120.22W
12/16/2008 M43.0 INCH PLACER CA MESONET
ALPINE MEADOWS SNOW STUDY PLOT RECEIVED 18 INCHES OF SNOW
IN THE LAST 24 HOURS PLUS 10 INCHES OVERNIGHT FOR A STORM
TOTAL OF 43 INCHES.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW MAMMOUTH MOUNTAIN 37.65N 119.03W
12/16/2008 M49.0 INCH MONO CA PUBLIC
ADDITIONAL 21 INCHES IN THE PAST 24 HOURS FOR A STORM
TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 49 INCHES.
&&
CJORDANLocal storm report, Dec 16, 10:36 AM PST, 2 hours 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1036 AM PST TUE DEC 16 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0100 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 SW SOUTH LAKE TAHOE 38.92N 120.01W
12/15/2008 M11.0 INCH EL DORADO CA PUBLIC
TOTAL AS OF 12 PM NEAR AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 89
AND 50. SNOW DRIFTS UP TO 18 INCHES.
0104 PM HEAVY SNOW 5 W BECKWOURTH 39.81N 120.47W
12/15/2008 M12.0 INCH PLUMAS CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SINCE 5 PM SUNDAY AT 4850 FEET. ONGOING LIGHT SNOW.
0104 PM SNOW 4 SSW RENO 39.49N 119.86W
12/15/2008 M4.2 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SNOW IN CAUGHLIN RANCH IN SOUTHWEST RENO. 0.5
INCHES FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MIDNIGHT. 3.75 INCHES
BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 1230 PM MONDAY.
0124 PM HEAVY SNOW 8 SW RENO 39.46N 119.93W
12/15/2008 M6.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC
TOTAL SNOW AS OF 11 AM IN SOUTHWEST RENO. SNOW BEGAN
AROUND 5 PM SUNDAY. ELEVATION 4800 FEET.
0135 PM HEAVY SNOW PORTOLA 39.80N 120.47W
12/15/2008 M9.0 INCH PLUMAS CA CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW SINCE SUNDAY EVENING. 0.60 LIQUID EQUIVALENT.
0151 PM SNOW 2 SE SPANISH SPRINGS 39.65N 119.69W
12/15/2008 M4.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SINCE SUNDAY EVENING. 3 INCHES BETWEEN 730 AM AND
130 PM MONDAY.
0218 PM HEAVY SNOW HOMEWOOD 39.08N 120.16W
12/15/2008 M17.0 INCH PLACER CA TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR SNOW TOTAL AS OF 9 AM MONDAY AT 6330 FEET. STILL
SNOWING HEAVILY AT 215 PM.
&&
CJORDANLocal storm report, Dec 16, 10:39 AM PST, 2 hours 26 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1039 AM PST TUE DEC 16 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 AM SNOW 4 NNE NEW WASHOE CITY 39.36N 119.75W
12/15/2008 M1.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOWFALL AS OF 545AM AT 4200 FEET. CURRENTLY SNOWING
LIGHTLY.
0628 AM SNOW 4 SSW RENO 39.49N 119.86W
12/15/2008 M1.5 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
CURRENT SNOWFALL TOTAL AS OF 630AM IN THE CAUGHLIN RANCH
AREA.
0628 AM SNOW SQUAW VALLEY 39.20N 120.22W
12/15/2008 M8.0 INCH PLACER CA TRAINED SPOTTER
CURRENT SNOWFALL AS OF 630AM AT SQUAW VALLEY USA SKI
RESORT. 4-6 INCHES AT 6200 FEET AND 6-8 INCHES AT 8200
FEET.
0633 AM HEAVY SNOW 6 NW RENO 39.60N 119.90W
12/15/2008 M5.0 INCH WASHOE NV NWS EMPLOYEE
CURRENT SNOWFALL AS OF 630AM IN NORTHWEST RENO FOOTHILLS
AT ROUGHLY 5000 FEET. SNOW STARTED AT 730PM ON 12/14/08.
0636 AM HEAVY SNOW ALPINE MEADOWS 39.17N 120.22W
12/15/2008 E12.0 INCH PLACER CA TRAINED SPOTTER
CURRENT SNOWFALL AT ALPINE MEADOWS SKI RESORT AS OF
630AM. 10 INCHES AT 6200 FEET AND 12 INCHES AT 8600 FEET.
0642 AM HEAVY SNOW NORTHSTAR 39.28N 120.12W
12/15/2008 M15.0 INCH PLACER CA TRAINED SPOTTER
CURRENT SNOWFALL AS OF 630AM AT NORTHSTAR AT TAHOE. 9
INCHES AT MID MOUNTAIN AND 15 INCHES AT THE SUMMIT.
0651 AM HEAVY SNOW MOUNT ROSE SKI AREA 39.33N 119.89W
12/15/2008 M18.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
CURRENT SNOWFALL AT MOUNT ROSE SKI RESORT AS OF 645AM. 14
INCHES AT THE BASE AND 18 INCHES AT 9700 FEET.
0658 AM HEAVY SNOW KIRKWOOD 38.70N 120.07W
12/15/2008 M18.0 INCH EL DORADO CA TRAINED SPOTTER
CURRENT SNOWFALL AS OF 700AM AT KIRKWOOD SKI RESORT. 14
INCHES AT THE BASE AND 18 INCHES AT THE SUMMIT.
0700 AM HEAVY SNOW 6 NNE RENO 39.61N 119.78W
12/15/2008 M4.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC
12 HR SNOWFALL FOR NORTH VALLEYS OF RENO AT 4934 FEET.
0700 AM HEAVY SNOW 5 W MAMMOTH LAKES 37.65N 119.04W
12/15/2008 M19.0 INCH MONO CA MESONET
19 HR SNOWFALL FOR MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN AT 9000 FT.
0701 AM HEAVY SNOW MAMMOTH LAKES 37.64N 118.96W
12/15/2008 M18.0 INCH MONO CA TRAINED SPOTTER
CURRENT 24 HOUR SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION AT MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN
SKI RESORT AS OF 700AM.
0702 AM SNOW SPANISH SPRINGS 39.62N 119.72W
12/15/2008 M1.0 INCH WASHOE NV NWS EMPLOYEE
CURRENT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION AS OF 700AM.
0704 AM SNOW LEE VINING 37.96N 119.12W
12/15/2008 M1.0 INCH MONO CA TRAINED SPOTTER
CURRENT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION AS 700AM.
0715 AM HEAVY SNOW GRAEAGLE 39.77N 120.62W
12/15/2008 E12.0 INCH PLUMAS CA TRAINED SPOTTER
CURRENT SNOWFALL AS OF 715AM AT 4350 FEET. CURRENTLY 26
DEGREES AND LIGHT SNOW.
0744 AM SNOW 2 SE SPANISH SPRINGS 39.65N 119.69W
12/15/2008 M1.8 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SINCE YESTERDAY EVENING. 0.10 INCHES OF LIQUID
EQUIVALENT.
0745 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 WNW MAMMOTH LAKES 37.65N 118.98W
12/15/2008 E12.0 INCH MONO CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL JUST WEST OF MAMMOTH AT 8200 FEET AS OF 745 AM.
SNOW BEGAN AROUND 7 PM SUNDAY AND IS STILL SNOWING AS OF
745 AM.
0800 AM SNOW 4 N RENO 39.60N 119.81W
12/15/2008 M4.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC
12 HR SNOWFALL AT 5150 FEET.
0813 AM SNOW 1 NE INCLINE VILLAGE 39.26N 119.94W
12/15/2008 M7.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SNOW AS OF 8 AM AT 6700 FEET. SNOW STARTED
ACCUMULATING AROUND 2 PM SUNDAY AND SNOWED OFF AND ON
THROUGH THIS MORNING WITH WINDY CONDITIONS. STILL SNOWING
MODERATE AS OF 8 AM.
0821 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 W DOYLE 40.02N 120.12W
12/15/2008 E4.0 INCH LASSEN CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SNOW AS OF 820 AM AT 4500 FEET. SNOW BEGAN SUNDAY
EVENING. STILL SNOWING LIGHT AT 820 AM.
0828 AM HEAVY SNOW 4 NW BIEBER 41.16N 121.19W
12/15/2008 M6.0 INCH LASSEN CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SINCE YESTERDAY EVENING WITH LIGHT SNOW AT THE TIME
OF THE REPORT. ELEVATION 4300 FEET.
0830 AM HEAVY SNOW 8 SSW RENO 39.43N 119.88W
12/15/2008 M7.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC
12 HR SNOWFALL AT 4850 FEET IN SW RENO.
0833 AM HEAVY SNOW 5 SSE COLEVILLE 38.51N 119.47W
12/15/2008 M12.0 INCH MONO CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SINCE YESTERDAY EVENING. MODERATE SNOW AT TIME OF
REPORT. ELEVATION 4700 FEET.
0833 AM HEAVY SNOW VINTON 39.80N 120.18W
12/15/2008 M4.0 INCH PLUMAS CA CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SINCE YESTERDAY EVENING. HEAVY SNOW WITH VISIBILITY
OF 1/4 MILE AT TIME OF REPORT. ELEVATION 4950 FEET.
0851 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 E SLOAT 39.87N 120.72W
12/15/2008 M16.0 INCH PLUMAS CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SNOW SINCE 430 PM SUNDAY AT 4200 FEET. STILL
SNOWING LGT-MDT AT 830 AM. PERIODS OF WINDY CONDITIONS
SUNDAY EVENING.
0905 AM SNOW SPARKS 39.54N 119.74W
12/15/2008 M3.0 INCH WASHOE NV NWS EMPLOYEE
AT 9 AM 3 INCHES TOTAL IN SPARKS JUST WEST OF VISTA/LOS
ALTOS SINCE SUNDAY EVENING. 2 INCHES FELL IN THE LAST
HOUR.
0955 AM HEAVY SNOW S BIEBER 41.12N 121.14W
12/15/2008 M7.0 INCH LASSEN CA TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL SNOW SO FAR 7 INCHES WITH 0.40 INCHES WATER
EQUIVALENT.
1000 AM SNOW 5 SE RENO 39.48N 119.77W
12/15/2008 M2.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
14 HR SNOWFALL AT THE RENO TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
1000 AM SNOW 5 SE RENO 39.48N 119.77W
12/15/2008 M2.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
14 HR SNOWFALL TOTAL AT THE RENO TAHOE INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
1007 AM HEAVY SNOW 2 S SPANISH SPRINGS 39.63N 119.72W
12/15/2008 M5.8 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SNOW THROUGH 930 AM SINCE SUNDAY EVENING. 3.5
INCHES FELL THROUGH 730 AM AND 2.25 INCHES FELL 730-930
AM.
1009 AM HEAVY SNOW 6 WSW BOCA RESERVOIR 39.36N 120.18W
12/15/2008 M18.0 INCH NEVADA CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL STORM ACCUMULATION SO FAR. STILL MODERATE SNOWFALL.
1030 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 WNW MAMMOTH LAKES 37.65N 118.98W
12/15/2008 M19.0 INCH MONO CA TRAINED SPOTTER
15 HR SNOWFALL TOTAL AT 8200 FEET. 6 INCHES IN THE PAST 3
HOURS.
1200 PM HEAVY SNOW 5 NNW CEDARVILLE 41.60N 120.20W
12/15/2008 E6.0 INCH MODOC CA TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR SNOWFALL AT 4800 FEET.
1200 PM HEAVY SNOW 1 WNW FORT BIDWELL 41.86N 120.16W
12/15/2008 M8.0 INCH MODOC CA TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HR SNOWFALL AT 4600 FEET.
0100 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 SW SOUTH LAKE TAHOE 38.92N 120.01W
12/15/2008 M11.0 INCH EL DORADO CA PUBLIC
TOTAL AS OF 12 PM NEAR AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 89
AND 50. SNOW DRIFTS UP TO 18 INCHES.
0104 PM SNOW 4 SSW RENO 39.49N 119.86W
12/15/2008 M4.2 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SNOW IN CAUGHLIN RANCH IN SOUTHWEST RENO. 0.5
INCHES FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MIDNIGHT. 3.75 INCHES
BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 1230 PM MONDAY.
0104 PM HEAVY SNOW 5 W BECKWOURTH 39.81N 120.47W
12/15/2008 M12.0 INCH PLUMAS CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SINCE 5 PM SUNDAY AT 4850 FEET. ONGOING LIGHT SNOW.
0124 PM HEAVY SNOW 8 SW RENO 39.46N 119.93W
12/15/2008 M6.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC
TOTAL SNOW AS OF 11 AM IN SOUTHWEST RENO. SNOW BEGAN
AROUND 5 PM SUNDAY. ELEVATION 4800 FEET.
0135 PM HEAVY SNOW PORTOLA 39.80N 120.47W
12/15/2008 M9.0 INCH PLUMAS CA CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL SNOW SINCE SUNDAY EVENING. 0.60 LIQUID EQUIVALENT.
0151 PM SNOW 2 SE SPANISH SPRINGS 39.65N 119.69W
12/15/2008 M4.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SINCE SUNDAY EVENING. 3 INCHES BETWEEN 730 AM AND
130 PM MONDAY.
0218 PM HEAVY SNOW HOMEWOOD 39.08N 120.16W
12/15/2008 M17.0 INCH PLACER CA TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR SNOW TOTAL AS OF 9 AM MONDAY AT 6330 FEET. STILL
SNOWING HEAVILY AT 215 PM.
0828 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 E SLOAT 39.87N 120.72W
12/16/2008 M24.0 INCH PLUMAS CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH
TUESDAY MORNING AT 800 AM.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 NE INCLINE VILLAGE 39.26N 119.94W
12/16/2008 M13.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL SINCE SUNDAY WAS 13 INCHES OF LIGHT SNOW.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW MOUNT ROSE SKI AREA 39.33N 119.89W
12/16/2008 M23.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC
ADDITIONAL 3-5 INCHES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS FOR A STORM
TOTAL OF 17-23 INCHES.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW KIRKWOOD 38.70N 120.07W
12/16/2008 M48.0 INCH EL DORADO CA PUBLIC
42-48 INCH STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL SINCE SUNDAY.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW ALPINE MEADOWS 39.17N 120.22W
12/16/2008 M43.0 INCH PLACER CA MESONET
ALPINE MEADOWS SNOW STUDY PLOT RECEIVED 18 INCHES OF SNOW
IN THE LAST 24 HOURS PLUS 10 INCHES OVERNIGHT FOR A STORM
TOTAL OF 43 INCHES.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW MAMMOUTH MOUNTAIN 37.65N 119.03W
12/16/2008 M49.0 INCH MONO CA PUBLIC
ADDITIONAL 21 INCHES IN THE PAST 24 HOURS FOR A STORM
TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 49 INCHES.
0913 AM HEAVY SNOW 2 NNW DONNER SUMMIT 39.34N 120.25W
12/16/2008 M26.0 INCH NEVADA CA TRAINED SPOTTER
RECEIVED 6 ADDITIONAL INCHES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS FOR A
STORM TOTAL OF 26 INCHES.
&&
CJORDANAvalanche, Mono
- When
- December 16, 1:05 PM PST to 1:10 PM PST
- Where
- Mono forecast zone
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- Newspaper
- Coordinates
- 37.939, -118.887 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The Mammoth Times newspaper in Mammoth Lakes reported that an avalanche occurred at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort during early afternoon on Tuesday, December 16th. The newspaper reported that the avalanche, in the Dragon's Tail area above Chair 9, was triggered by ski patrol performing avalanche control duties. According to the newspaper, a small, two-foot crown broke above the ski patroller. As a result of the avalanche carrying him down the mountain and into a tree, the patroller suffered cracked or broken ribs.
- Avalanche
- A mass of snow sliding down a mountainside that caused a death, an injury or damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Winter Weather in Indiana, December 16 to 17, 20082 deaths · 2 injured · 1 event
- Winter Weather in Illinois, December 16, 20081 death · 1 event
- Winter Weather in Kansas, December 16, 200810 injured · 3 events
- Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, December 16 to 17, 20084 injured · 8 events
- Winter Weather in Kentucky, December 16 to 17, 200822 events
- Winter Weather in Iowa, December 16, 200821 events
- Winter Weather in Wisconsin, December 16 to 17, 200820 events
- Winter Weather in Illinois, December 16 to 17, 200819 events
- Winter Weather in Illinois, December 16, 200813 events
- Winter Weather in Missouri, December 16 to 17, 200811 events
- Winter Weather in New Jersey, December 16 to 17, 20087 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in West Virginia, December 16 to 17, 20086 events
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 146272.