For five straight days, snow fell with relentless force in the Sierra, piling up faster than crews could clear it and transforming Truckee-Tahoe into a winter wonderland snow globe. By the time skies began to clear, the storm had delivered one of the most significant snowfall events in decades — and secured a place in the record books.

The Central Sierra Snow Lab reported that 111 inches of snow fell over five days between Feb. 16 and Feb. 20. The total marks the most snow recorded there during any five-day period since April 1982 and the third-highest five-day total since record-keeping began in 1970.

The lab, operated by University of California, Berkeley, sits at about 6,900 feet near Donner Pass and is widely cited for its long-running snowfall and snowpack measurements in the Sierra Nevada.

CSSL officials noted that only two other five-day stretches have recorded more snow since digitized records began: 113 inches in December 1970 and 118.5 inches in April 1982.

“At this point, the snowpack is basically building an extension onto the lab,” the Snow Lab wrote on Facebook during live storm updates. “Send snacks. Or a shovel. Or both.”

Weather Outlook

Despite the historic totals, a warmer storm cycle brought periods of heavy rain to Tahoe, leaving slushy conditions at area resorts and disappointing many recreationists who had hoped the powder would stick around.

Luckily, forecasters say snow showers are possible again Wednesday afternoon into the evening. Snow levels are expected to start around 7,000 feet Wednesday morning before falling to about 5,000 feet by evening, according to OpenSnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto.

“A dry pattern is expected to set up starting Thursday, which could last into the third week of March,” he said.