Frazier Park, Calif. & Mt. Pinos area climatology, weather info, weather history, snowfall history

Frazier Ski & Pack's
Frazier Park Weather Service™
©Copyright 2000- 2008; L.G.W. All Rights Reserved

11/9/08

                                                  SLEDS!             XC Skis & Boots    Snowshoes TroutPro+™
This report is provided as a public service by Frazier Ski & Pack , Frazier Park;
WE RENT XC SKIS & SNOWSHOES, SELL WINTER ACCESSORIES, BAIT, TACKLE, HIKING & CAMPING GEAR, AREA TRAIL MAPS, BICYCLING ACCESSORIES, ETC.
WE SELL FUN!                [E-Mail]

SEASONAL/ANNUAL SNOWFALL HISTORY FOR THE LOCAL MOUNTAINS, MEASURED ON MT. PINOS WE HAVE COMPILED. OTHER LOCAL STATISTICAL INFO IS ALSO SHOWN ON THIS PAGE:

1997-98, an El Nino year, was the highest recorded moisture year at the Tejon Rancho station, with 23.62 inches of precip.

We also have a document reflecting precipitation figures taken at the USFS Chuchupate Ranger Station back to 1941, if you are interested. On the latter chart, the winters of 1977-78 and 1982-83 are the highest recordings on the chart we have, at almost 32 inches each. 1984 is the latest figures we have on that chart, but subsequent years are readily available from that ranger office.

The only real conclusion that can be drawn from historical data in our area, pattern-wise, is that there is no pattern to the California moisture scene. One fact that does appear is that seasons following a very wet winter here are usually abnormally dry. Other than that, your guess is as good as anyone's. If you know of any data that should be included on this page, please let us know.

10/07:

Drought? What drought? Precipitation data has to be looked at in a minimum of 10-year spans to establish any appropriate longterm trending, annual alarmist media reports notwithstanding. In reviewing the last 10 years of localized precip data at the old Tejon Rancho weather measurement station south of Arvin, the average precip. has been 12.01 inches per year, exactly what the annual average has been since 1898 there. http://newweb.wrh.noaa.gov/hnx/coop/tejonrch.htm The last two years have only been approx. 15% below that average.

At the Lebec station, the last 10 years have actually been wetter- 14.53 per year av. precip; the average since 1948 is 12.99. In 2005, precip was double that average +; 2006 was down 25%.

At the Pine Mtn. Club Station, the last 10 have been marginally wetter- 16.52 per year av., vs. 16.42 since 1978/79. 2005/06 was at 150% of that average; 2006/2007 was down 65%.

So........although there may be more dramatic data in other parts of the state or the US, we still fit the norm in our region. Take your pick at which of the above data you wish to use to justify your position. If you're looking for consistency, California's weather is the wrong thing to examine.

Our local water tables are declining, without a doubt, but its because of overdrafting them, not because of the weather.

Mt. Pinos Winter Season Snowfall History:
(Estimated.....At 8,100 ft. Elevation on Mt. Pinos. NOTE: Figures below do NOT show what the base amount of snow is at the present time, but total snowfalls by storm for the season.)

Note: Because of the temperatures our snow normally falls at, you can estimate moisture content from our local snow as 15" of snow being equal to about 1" of precipitation.

2008/2009:
Several days of rain in Oct. and early Nov. A good indicator for the winter, in spite of La Nina' predictions....
(Date, Inches of Snow, Snow Elevation Level in Feet)
11/9- 4" - 5,500'

2007/2008:
Note- La Nina forecasted for this winter
9/22 was our earliest snow in at least 7 years......
(Date, Inches of Snow, Snow Elevation Level in Feet)
9/21/07- Rain
9/22- 2" - 8,000'
10/5- 1" - 5,000'
11/11- 1" - 8,000'
11/30- 1" - 7,500'
12/7- 2"- 7,000'
12/8- 9"- 4,500'
12/20- 4"- 5,000'
12/26- 1"- 4,500'
12/28- 1"- 6,000'
12/29- 1"-6,000'
1/4-     6"- 8,000'
1/5-     4"- 6,000'
1/6-     8"- 4,500'
1/21- 1/4"- 4,500'
1/22-     1"- 4,500'
1/23-   24"- 3,500'
1/24-    6"- 4,000'
1/25-    18"- 5,500'
1/26-   12"- 7,000'
1/27-    3"- 5,000'
1/28-    2"- 4,000'
1/30-    4"- 4,000'
1/31-    3"- 6,000'
2/3-      4"- 4,000'
2/4-      4"- 6,000'
2/20-    3" - 5,000'
2/23-    4" - 7,000'
3/14-    2"- 4,500'
3/15-   4"- 4,500'
3/16-   2"- 3,500'
May 24- Memorial Day W/E- 3 inches fell at 6,000'! 60% humidity. Snowing at 42 degrees!

2006/2007:
Note- El Nino was forecasted for this winter but did not materialize
(Date, Inches of Snow, Snow Elevation Level in Feet)
Periodic rainfall in Sept. , Oct. and Nov.
2" snowfall on 11/27- 5,500 ft. (Our latest start to the snow season in 7 years.)
11/28- 2"-4,500'
12/10- 4"- 5,500'
12/17- 3"- 3,000'
12/27- 6"- 3,500'
12/28- 6"- 3,000'
1/5- 4"- 3,000'
1/28- 12"- 4,000'
1/31- 4"- 6,000'
2/13- 10"- 4,500'
2/19- 4"- 4,500'
2/23- 4"- 3,500'
2/27- 2"- 6,000'
2/28- 4"- 3,000'
3/27- 3"- 4,000'
3/28- 3"- 4,000'
4/13- 2"- 6,500'
4/21- 4"- 5,500'

2005/2006:
(Date, Inches of Snow, Snow Elevation Level in Feet)
Periodic rainfall in Sept. , Oct. and Nov.
1" snowfall on 10/15- 8,000 ft.
11/10 - 3"- 7,500'
11/29- 1"- 8,000'
12/2- 2"- 7,000'
12/9- 2"- 5,000'
Rained 12/28 & 12/29, 12/31/, 1/1; Trace of snow above 8,000'
1/2- 12"- 7,000'
1/7- 2"- 6,000'
1/19- 4"- 4,000'
2/17- 4"- 4,000'
2/18- 3" - 3,500'
2/19- 1"- 4,000'
2/28- 3" - 7,500'
3/3- 6"- 5,000'
3/4- 6"- 6,000'
3/8- 4"- 4,000'
3/10- 4"- 3,500'
3/11- 9"- 3,000'
3/12- 6"- 3,000'
3/17- 3"- 7,000'
3/18- 6"- 3,000'
3/19- 2"- 6,000'
3/20- 3"- 4,000'
3/27- 2"- 7,000'
3/28- 6"- 5,500'
3/29- 3"- 6,500'
3/31- 1"- 4,500'
4/4- 3"- 4,000'
4/5- 3"- 4,000'
4/12- 3"- 6,500'
4/17- 3"- 5,000'
Total- 112" YTD; Total Snow Days- 31

2004/2005:
(Date, Inches of Snow, Snow Elevation Level in Feet)
10/17 & 10/18 - First Rainfall of the Season
10/19- 3”- 6,500’
10/26 – 6”- 4,000’
12/7- 2”- 5,000’
12/27&28- 24”- 4,000’
12/29- 8”- 4,000’
Week of 1/2/05- 3 1/2ft. of new snow- 4,000’
1/28 & 29-8”- 6,000’
2/15- 12”- 6,500’
2/18 to 2/21- 5 FT. of snow- 6,000’
2/22- 6” 5,500’
2/23- 6”- 6,000’
YTD- 15 FT. EST.
Total Snow Days- 22

Suffice it to say that we had a tremendous amount of snow and regular snowfall this season. Much of it was at higher elevations because of tropical, El Nino influences. Precipitation figures for this winter season will be outrageous, when they become available.

2003/2004:
(Date, Inches of Snow, Snow Elevation Level in Feet)
11/1- 3" - 5,000
11/2- 3"
11/3- 2"
11/8- 1" - 7,000
11/9- 1"
11/10- 1"
11/11- 2"
11/12- 2"
11/15- 2"
11/16- 2"
12/10- 1"
12/11- 3"
12/14- 3"
12/21- 2"
12/23- 2" - 6,000
12/24- 12"
12/25- 6"
12/26- 6"
12/27- 2"
12/29- 1" - 3,500
12/30- 2" - 3,500
1/2- 3" - 7,000
1/3- 6" - 3,500
1/22- 3"- 7,000
1/24- 3" - 6,000
1/25- 2" - 6,000
1/27-3" - 5.500
1/30-2" - 6,000
1/31-1" - 4,000
2/2-6" - 6,000
2/3-7" - 3,000
2/4-5" - 4,000
2/5-2" - 5,000
2/18- 10"- 6,500
2/19- 2" - 4,500
2/20- 3" - 4,500
2/21- 6" - 4,500
2/22- 6" - 4,500
2/23 - 6" - 4,500
2/24 - 3" - 5,000
2/25 - 10" - 6,000
2/26 - 12" - 7,000
2/27 - 3" - 4,000
2/28 - 5" - 4,000
3/1 - 2" - 7,000
3/2 - 3" - 4,000

FOR THE SEASON OF 2002/2003:*
11/9- 2"+
11/30- 3"
12/1- 3"
12/15-3"
12/16-3"
12-17-6"
12/18- 3"
12/19- 12"
12/20-12/22- 12"+
12/28- 1"
12/29-12/31- 6"
1/9- 1"
2/11- 6"
2/12- 24"
2/19-2/20- 8"
2/25- 12"+
2/26- 4"
2/27- 4"
2/28- 1"
3/4- 2"
3/15- 12"
3/16-3/17- 12"
4/3-- 2"
4/5- 6"
4/13- 2"
4/14- 6"
4/15- 6"
4/16-3"
4/17-6"
4/18- 3"
4/22- 2"
5/3- 6"
5/9-3"
5/14- 4"

TOTAL ACCUMULATION- SEASON-TO-DATE - 189"+
39 Total snow days.
* PRECIPITATION NOTE- AT TEJON RANCHO STATION, 4.11 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION WAS RECORDED FOR FEBRUARY THIS YEAR. THAT IS THE SECOND HIGHEST AMOUNT OF MOISTURE FOR FEBRUARY SINCE 1962! MARCH WAS NO DOUBT ABOVE NORMAL, AND OUR WET APRIL & MAY WILL PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE WETTEST ON RECORD, ONCE THE STATS ARE IN. MORE PRECIP. IS EXPECTED THIS MONTH. THIS DATA REFLECTS THE EL NINO' INFLUENCE THIS SEASON.

FOR THE SEASON OF 2001/2002:
11/12- 6"
11/25- 1"
11/29- 6"
12/3- 2"
12/4- 6"
12/9- 2"
12/10- 1"
12/11- Trace
12/14- 6"
12/21- 8"
12/29- 2"
1/3- 2"
1/27- 12"
1/29- 6"
2/16- 6"
2/17- 2"
3/6- 2"
3/14- 12"
3/17-6"
3/23-2"
3/24-2"

TOTAL ACCUMULATION FOR THE SEASON WAS 94"+
21 Total Snow days.
2002 was the lightest precipitation, drought year since recordings began in the late 1800's;
thru 10/31- 2.39 inches. CONSERVE WATER!

2000/2001 Mt. Pinos Winter Season Snowfall History:
10/15- 3"
10/30- 6"
11/10-6"
12/12-Trace
1/8-1/9- 12-18"
1/10-1/11-12-18"
1/12-12-24"
1/14- 2-3"
1/15- Trace
1/16- Trace
1/24-1/26- 6-12"
1/27- 6"
2/7- 2-4"
2/10- 4"
2/12-2/13- 2 TO 5 FT.
2/18- 2"
2/19- 2"
2/20- 1"
2/22- 2"
2/22-2/23- 6"
2/25-2/26- 2 Ft.
3/3- 1 Ft.
3/4- 2 to 5 Ft.
3/10- 2" to 4"
3/11- 2"
4/5- 1"
4/6- 6"
4/8- 6"
4/9- 6"
4/10-6"
4/11-2"
4/21-6"

TOTAL ACCUMULATION FOR THE SEASON WAS 300"+!
39 Total Snow Days.
117 inches of snow fell during the 2000/2001 winter here in town at 4,600 ft.!

To see more area historical precipitation data, you can visit the online data site from the recording station at Tejon Ranch's old headquarters, south of Arvin. That station & the links below have the most detailed info that we have located online:

Ventura County Watershed Protection District    HYANN V57 Output 11/20/2006

    Site     200A            Mount Pinos
    Variable 11.03           Rainfall in Inches, Irregular

    Year      Annual              Days            Rank
    Starting Total               Missing
    October   (Inches)
    --------------------------------------------------
    1970/71          17.07             1            28
    1971/72          13.86                          30
    1972/73          25.34                          17
    1973/74          26.60                          16
    1974/75          25.34                          18
    1975/76          20.44                          23
    1976/77          20.86                          22
    1977/78          47.32                           3
    1978/79          28.28                          14
    1979/80          31.50                           9
    1980/81          21.16                          21
    1981/82          29.12                          11
    1982/83          47.96                           2
    1983/84          23.30                          20
    1984/85          23.52                          19
    1985/86          28.84                          12
    1986/87          18.06                          26
    1987/88          32.19                           8
    1988/89          18.06                          25
    1989/90          13.44                          32
    1990/91          27.02                          15
    1991/92          33.88                           7
    1992/93          38.64                           6
    1993/94          20.15                          24
    1994/95          43.54                           5
    1995/96          14.36                          29
    1996/97           9.30                          34
    1997/98          84.70                           1
    1998/99          13.35                          33
    1999/ 0           8.21                          35
    2000/ 1          29.40                          10
    2001/ 2          13.58                          31
    2002/ 3          28.70                          13
    2003/ 4          17.64                          27
    2004/ 5          44.10                           4
    2005/ 6          30.10                          10
    2006/ 7          14.56                          30

    Total           983.49             1
    Minumum   8.21
    Maximum   84.70
    Mean          26.58
    Median       25.34

Ventura County Watershed Protection District    HYANN V57 Output 11/20/2006

    Site     200             Mount Pinos
    Variable 11.03           Rainfall in Inches, Irregular

    Year      Annual              Days            Rank
    Starting Total               Missing
    October   (Inches)
    --------------------------------------------------
    1968/69          33.50             1             1
    1969/70          17.50                           2
    1970/71           0.00           365             3

http://publicworks.countyofventura.org/fc/hydrology/sta200/sta200.pdf has more info on Mt. Pinos. However, I see some of these figures as being highly suspect. It may be because of the heavy crosswinds and blowing snow on the summit of Pinos, which is where this gauge is located, 70 to 100 mph winds in big storms and big storm years. It is stationed on the lee side of the hill, and up against a stand of trees on the south side of the summit bowls, which would cause more drifting/resistance effect from northerly/northwesterly blown snow and into the gauges. It would be interesting to compare these to the Air Force figures from their summit area station, more to the north and west, were that info to become available.

41 inches of precip 2006?? No way. At local wetness ratios, that would compare to 615 inches of snow, 51 feet. That did NOT happen. Even at a 10 to 1 ratio, for the coldest snows, it would still be 61.5 feet. Still impossible. 80.5?? 1,200 inches of snow?? 100 feet. Nope. '04 is close but '03 is seriously skewed also. Compare these figures to other local stations and you will see the discrepancies; I would not rely on them.

This is why onsite snowpack measurement data is so important.

Station: 200a Mount Pinos -

Latitude: 34:48:45.3 Longitude: 119:08:13.0 Elevation: 8750 Type: ST

Storage Gage Season Totals and Measurements

WaterYear Measurement 1 Total

05/11/1993 37.24

05/04/1994 17.78

04/05/1995 37.66

05/01/1997 22.68

05/01/1998 80.50

04/28/2000 21.14

05/03/2001 28.84

04/30/2002 12.88

05/13/2003 26.04

05/07/2004 17.50

04/29/2005 41.44 * 41.44*

US Weather Service 30-year precipitation normals for Lebec and Sandberg: (In Inches)

                                                                       Lebec        Sandberg (South of   Gorman)

January            1.88                        2.03
February          2.48                        2.62
March              2.39                        1.91
April                1.08                        0.83
May                0.41                        0.26
June            0.05                        0.04
July                0.04                        0.03
August              0.16                        0.11
September        0.35                        0.37
October            0.46                        0.31
November        1.85                        1.97
   December         1.53                        1.98