Area snowfall enters record books

The Black Hills has experienced one of the snowiest seasons on record, with several places marking new entries on their top ten lists. While Crook County did not tip over any of its own historic totals, other parts of the hills broke their all-time highs and Sundance got to mark some new entries in its record books.

Rapid City broke its November record set in 2003 at 22.4 inches with a new high of 26 inches and also its fall snow record of 29.8 inches, set in 2013, with a total of 33.8 inches. Bison matched its record snowfall of 25 inches, also set in 2013.

Here in Wyoming, according to National Weather Service data, the Sundance station recorded a total of 24.4 inches of snow during the month of November. This puts 2019 at fourth on the all-time November snowfall list, though it’s still a third fewer inches than the record of 36.2 inches set in 1929.

For the fall months of September, October and November combined, Sundance saw the third highest total snowfall on record. The grand total of 34.4 inches that have graced the area this year squeaks in just shy of the all-time record of 38.7 inches, which was also set in 1929.

Members of the community can contribute to the collection of weather data through the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, better known as CoCoRaHS, according to Melissa Smith, Hydrologist for the National Weather Service.

“CoCoRaHS is active across Crook County and we always need more observers,” she says.

“It is very easy for anyone to report and that information is used by lots of different groups and the information can be used for several agricultural programs.”

To find out more about the program or sign up, visit http://www.cocorahs.org.