17 feet of snow and still falling

It's official: 112 inches of snow fell in Concord this year, making it the fourth snowiest since the National Weather Service (NWS) started keeping records in 1868.

An inch of snow fell overnight, pushing the total amount of snow this season into the fourth spot, according to NWS hydrologist Tom Hawley.

But the state's capital wasn't the snowiest spot in the state, even with its 9.3 feet of snow, not by a long shot. That distinction goes to Diamond Pond in the northern part of the state near the Canadian border where 197 inches -- that's not a typo -- of snow was measured through the end of February. That's more than 16 feet of snow, 85 inches or more than seven feet more than what blanketed the Capital City.

And, at least another foot fell there this month, as it did in other spots in the North Country, according to NWS hydrologist Tom Hawley. That would mean more than 17 feet of snow fell on Diamond Pond -- eight feet more than in Concord.

Another snowstorm is expected to drop another six inches tonight on Diamond Pond and parts of the North Country, Hawley said.

So, even though history records the heaviest snowfall at 122 inches, the record is much, much higher than that.

Hawley explained, however, that Concord is the only place in New Hampshire where a weather center has continously operated since 1868. Historic snowfall amounts in the state, therefore, are based only on what is measured in the state's capital.

Hawley said the NWS retains official snow amounts for other cities and towns across the state which are much higher, but the records for most go back only 30 years. NWS relies on individuals interested in weather to take snow measurements which, Hawley said, can leave gaps when individuals relocate.

Five other areas in the state, through the end of February, also topped the historic snowfall of 122 inches that fell in Concord in 1873-74. They include Mount Washington, 168.9 inches; First Connnecticut Lake (at the headwaters of the Connecticut River near the Canadian border), 139 inches; Pinkham Notch, 135 inches, and Laconia, 122.5 inches.

When the additional foot of snow is added for March, two more towns topped the all-time high: North Conway, with 121.7 inches of snow recorded this season and Gorham, with 119 inches.

Hawley said he thinks this snowy winter may be the third snowiest on record since only another half-inch of snow is needed. But, he doubts another 10.1 inches of snow will blanket Concord this year to beat the all-time snowiest winter.

"I don't know. It's getting quite late in the season but if you're going to get this much snow you might as well break a record," he said.

The NWS snowfall records, as measured in Concord, are as follows:

1. 122 inches 1873-74

2. 115 inches 1872-73

3. 112.4 inches 1995-96

4. 112 inches 2007-08

5. 111 inches 1887-88

Source: National Weather Service

Some of the Snowiest Spots in NH as of the end of February, 2008