Lake Tahoe Weather-El Nino Winter?

The squirrels have gone absolutely crazy eating and actually cutting pine cones from the trees in preparation for a HUGE South Lake Tahoe  winter? Only time will tell but there are actual scientific indications for a big winter namely our old friend “El Nino” The El Nino is expected to strengthen later this fall and become a full fledged El Nino by mid winter.

El Nino does not always foretell a big winter but in a majority of cases winter of note are associated with an El Nino event.

Noteable El Nino winter from the past have been 1982-83; 1968-69; 2004-05; 1997-98. It is worth noting that the BIG winter of 1951-52 was not an strong El Nino but there have been some comparisons to that epic winter and how this El Nino is beginning and is forecast to locate itself. Maybe I need to bring in more firewood and get the hurricane lamps ready!

I have been trying to do further historic research an winter such as 1846-47 which of course was the winter the Donner Party was trapped in the Sierra’s and endured incredible hardships. That winter the snow was estimated at Donner lake to be over 22 feet deep! The estimates at Donner Summit were over 40 feet! Was that an El Nino year? I am checking.

Here are some recent articles relating to the upcoming El Nino event:

• El Nino could forecast disaster for Olympics (canada.com)
• El Nino’s back, can affect weather worldwide: experts (ctv.ca)
• New El Nino increases drought threat (telegraph.co.uk)
• El Nino should bring mild winter: expert (nationalpost.com)
• Should you take a chance on a season ski pass this winter? (cliffmass.blogspot.com)
• Why Does the Tale of the Donner Party Continue to Fascinate? (francesdinkelspiel.blogspot.com)
• The Donner party in proper context (boston.com)