New record of snow cover height has been achieved in Paratunka

Meteorological observations at Paratunka Complex Geophysical Observatory of IKIR FEB RAS have been carried out since 2009. During that time, the highest snow cover height of 270 cm has been observed twice, on March 22, 2009 and on March 23, 2013 (graph 1).

However, these records were broken on February 26, 2026 when the measuring rod for the snow cover showed 280 cm after the latest cyclone. It is clear from photo 2 that in the morning on February 2, the top of the rod, which length is 280 cm, is just at the show lovel (black mark in the center of the photo). For comparison, photo 3 shows the same rod on October 28, 2025 just after the first snowfall during the season 2025-2026.

The situation was commented on by the Head of the Paratunka CGPhO, Leading Researcher, Cand. Sci. (Phys.-Math.) Khomutov Sergey Yurevich: «Of course, the consequences of the February cyclone are not so severe compared to those after the January cyclone. However, taking into consideration that the snow volume is constantly growing, the observatory has problems with its accumulation. The buildings of the height of more than 5 meters become some kind of dens and the paths to them turn to deep trenches».

Photo 4 shows the absolute building, in which manual magnetic observations are carried out twice a day. The building is supported by piles in order to reduce the problems of high snow cover that is a rescue during heavy snowfalls. For comparison photo 5 shows the same building in May 2024.

"Specific character of magnetic measurements does not allow us to use engine snow-handling equipment, making noise, that is why shovels become the main «scientific» tool after cyclones. However, it is impossible to shovel a path of more than 200 m from the main building to the measuring buildings. Our magnetologists, who make observations, just tread a path 20 cm wide, walking every day at the height of more than 2.5 meters», - Sergey told. The path is illustrated in photo 6.

After the February snowfall, the measuring rod was extended by 1 meter. Thus, Paratunka CGPhO of IKIR FEB RAS is ready for new snow records! As the practice shows, the maximum of cyclones in Kamchatka occurs just in March.