Snow-depth records causing debate

A controversy is brewing over snowfall records for Coeur d’Alene. Data collected by a local climatologist show Coeur d’Alene received record amounts of snow this winter, while more-official data show less snow has fallen.

The National Weather Service in Spokane does not collect or archive complete climate data for Coeur d’Alene. Sites with complete or nearly complete climate information include Spokane (at Geiger Field), Lewiston, Pullman, Omak, Ephrata and Wenatchee. More limited climate information is kept for other locations across the area including some basic weather records from various cooperative weather observer sites, such as at the Coeur d’Alene wastewater treatment plant.

Coeur d’Alene climatologist Cliff Harris has been taking meticulous weather observations from his home on Player Drive (elevation approximately 2,300 feet) for many, many years. Based on the snow measurements taken at his home, Coeur d’Alene has received more than 127 inches of snow this year, which would break the record of 124.2 inches set in 1915-1916.

In stark contrast, are the snowfall totals taken from the cooperative weather observation site at the wastewater treatment plant. The total for snowfall at that location based on the records is 59 inches.

When comparing weather datait would be highly unlikely, that the weather observations were taken at nearly the same spot through the years. In an area with flat terrain, a 10-mile difference in location would probably not make much difference in collected weather data. In a place like Coeur d’Alene, with its highly variable terrain, weather data recorded in different parts of the city may yield different results.

This is where comparing today’s measurements, to those taken in, say 1907, may get a little hazy. In addition to location differences, the method in which observations are taken are not consistent. Official snowfall measurements, such as those taken by the National Weather Service in Spokane, are taken at least every six hours, if not more. Harris took frequent measurements as well. This is necessary to get more accurate numbers when snow might be melting on the ground, or blowing in drifts. At the wastewater treatment plant, measurements of snow were only taken once per day.

The wastewater plant site figure appears low, based on the fact that Spokane has recorded nearly 66 inches. On the other hand, snowfall records for Coeur d’Alene taken through the decades were obviously not all recorded from Harris’ house. You can see where there might be a question as to whether or not a record was broken based on Harris’ measurements alone, as accurate as they may be at his location. With that disclaimer in mind, and information Harris has supplied, here are statistics for the snowiest Coeur d’Alene winters:

1. 2007-08: 127 inches as of Feb. 5, measured on Player Drive; 2. 1915-16: 124.2 inches; 3. 1968-69: 117.8 inches; 4. 1949-50: 116.6 inches; 5. 1992-93: 113.7 inches

Spokane is also recording some impressive snow totals, with 65.5 inches as of Feb. 5. The snowiest winter for Spokane was 1949-50 with 93.5 inches. Ranking No. 10 on the list was the winter of 1950-51 with 71.7 inches.