TY - Generic T1 - Diminishing Snowfall in Central and Northern California's Mixed Rain and Snow Elevation Zone T2 - 77th Annual Western Snow Conference Y1 - 2009 A1 - Freeman, G.J. KW - Declining snowfall, California mountains, mid-elevation zone, cooperator stations AB - Snowfall over large areas of the low elevation snow zone in central and northern California below the 1,524 m (5,000 ft) elevation has significantly diminished since the mid-twentieth century and for some areas where it has historically snowed, precipitation now occurs only as rainfall. An analysis of snowfall measurements from several NOAA National Weather Service cooperative weather stations throughout central and northern California revealed a significant decrease in measured snowfall in recent years. Earlier studies have mostly focused on snow courses and automated snow sensors at elevations above 1,524 m (5,000 ft). This study analyzed snowfall measurements only between the 457 m (1,500 ft) and 1,524 m (5,000 ft) elevations. Snowfall is typically measured manually utilizing a snowboard that is measured daily, swept clean, and then reset for the following day's collection. Some of the NOAA cooperator climate stations offer usable data and are an excellent source for evaluating low elevation precipitation type utilizing measured snowfall. Several mountain communities in California exist in the rain-snow zone between the 457 m (1,500 ft) and 1,524 m (5,000 ft) elevations. Continuing reductions in snowfall for these mountain communities reduces the need for snow removal equipment, designing building structures for heavy snow loads, and is creating a changed winter lifestyle, one with less snowfall. JF - 77th Annual Western Snow Conference T3 - Proceedings of the 77th Annual Western Snow Conference PB - Western Snow Conference CY - Canmore, AB UR - sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/2009Freeman.pdf ER -