Tree, Poison Flat, Carson Iceberg Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Your Backpacking Guide to the High Sierras Yellow Flower
Carson Pass Weather Information: Round Top Lake at Sunset
Round Top Lake Sunset

 

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Carson Pass
and the
Carson Pass Management Area

Weather Forecasts, Reports, Road Conditions
and
Information

Lake Tahoe Basin to our North,
Mokelumne Wilderness to our South

High Sierra Nevada Mountain Backpacking & Hiker's Weather Resources

 

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All
Sierra

Weather
Northern
Sierra
Weather
Central
Sierra

Weather
Southern Sierra
Weather
Lake Tahoe Basin
Region Weather
Carson Pass
Weather Map
Carson Pass
Trail Map
Ebbetts Pass
Region Weather

Carson Pass Weather Resources

 

Location
This weather page is concerned with providing weather information to hikers and backpackers on or near the Pacific Crest and Tahoe to Yosemite Trail routes through Carson Pass and The Carson Pass Management Area South of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Range
These Weather Resources cover the Highway 88 Corridor across Cason Pass South towards Ebbetts Pass. Carson Pass lays just South of the Lake Tahoe Basin and on the North end of the Mokelumne Wilderness

Besides the weather information we will find links to the maps, miles, resupply, permit, and elevations information for the PCT and TYT here, and to our North and South.

It's time to hit the trail.

 
   
   

Ouick References

Map
NORTH
Map
SOUTH
Southwest Tahoe Basin
Region Weather
MAP

Carson Pass
Region Weather
MAP

 

All High Sierra Reporting Stations

Smoke Resources

 

Ebbetts Pass
Region Weather

Carson Pass
BACKPACKING MAP

with
Round Top and the Sisters

 
Carson Pass Weather Page
Index
Forecasts
&
Road Conditions
Real-Time Stations
&
Snow Sensors
Radar
&
Satellite

Snow Cover, Probability,
and
Predictions

Reporting Stations
on
Topo Hiking Map
Trail Guide Information

7 Day Precip Forecasts
&
Current Satellite View

Forecasts, Road Conditions,
and
Web Cams

West Slope Sierra Nevada Region Forecast

West Slope Sierra Nevada Weather Forecast.

Road Conditions

CalTrans

Highway 88

Highway 89

Highway 50

Tahoe Basin Region Highways

 

Cal Trans Road Conditions Search

 

Cal Trans Road Conditions Phone Line

1-800.427.7623

Eyes on Carson Pass

Web Cams

Kirkwood

Lake Tahoe web cams

 

California Webcams
Add All Webcam Layers to Smoke Sensor Coverage

 

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NWS: 7 day
Carson Pass Weather and Forecast


7 Day Graphical Interface Forecast
National Weather Service Graphical Weather Observation and Forecast Tool for High Sierra Backpackers.

Use this tool to investigate all aspects of the 7 Day High Sierra Forecasts.

South Sierra Graphical Forecast Tool

ALL HIGH SIERRA WEATHER RESOURCES

Sierra Nevada Mountain Backpacker
Rain, Precipitation, and Local Satellite Views
Weather Imagery

Current to 7 Day High Sierra Precipitation ForecastSeven day precipitation forecast covering the Sierra Nevada for backpackers, fishermen, hunters and hikers.

Current Sierra Nevada Satellite Imagery High Sierra satellite views for backpackers, hiker, hunters, and fishermen.

All Precip Predictions & Models All Satellites

Northern Sierra Nevada
Radar and Satellite Weather Imagery

Northern Sierra Nevada Radar Imagery

Link to Northern Sierra Nevada Weather Radar out of Reno.

North Pacific and Sierra Nevada Satellite Imagery

Link to Weather Sattelite Imagery.

National Radar Map All Satellites

Reporting Stations
and
Snow Sensors
near
Carson Pass

Southwest Tahoe Basin
Region Weather
MAP

Carson Pass
Region Weather
MAP

All High Sierra Reporting Stations

Smoke Resources

 

Linked Ground Reporting Station
MAPS

Carson Pass Area Station List

The first link below bring you to an expansive map of MesoWest Northern California Real-Time reporting stations. Scroll over the stations for basic information, click it for the full report.

MesoWest Northern California

North California Mesowest real time weather reporting stations.

The link below, to California State reporting station brings you to a lousy map interface which fails to even work...

California Department of Water Resources real time weather reporting stations.

Snowtel

All Federal
Snotel Stations
in California

 

Federal Reporting Station Locations

Carson Pass & West

Carson Pass

Caples Lake

East of Carson Pass

Forestdale Creek

Markleyville

Monitor Pass

 

NWS
Winter Weather Forecasts

National Snow and Ice Data Center

 

Locate Stations near
Carson Pass on this
30 min Topo

 

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Calfornia State Stations

Focus: Carson Gap up to Meiss Meadow and down to Southeast end of Blue Lakes.

Note: Ca. reporting stations located by NAD 27.

All Carson Pass reporting stations laid out on a hiking map.

NEW> Carson Pass Sensor (ENFIA)

Location: Carson Pass, Highway 88. Topo Map.

 

#1> Carson Pass (state of ca sensor)

Location: Carson Pass, Highway 88. Topo Map.

Site Information and Reports from Carson Pass

Daily Report from Carson Pass

Latitude: 38.6924°N

Longitude: -120.0021°W

Elevation: 8353' ft

 

#2> SCHNEIDERS (state of ca sensor)

Location: South of Little Round Top. Indicative of Snow/Temps you will experience on North Side of Little Round Top, where the Pacific Crest Trail comes through Meiss Meadow. See Topo Map.

Site Information and Reports from Schneiders

Daily Report from Schneiders

Latitude: 38.7470°N

Longitude: 120.0680°W

Elevation: 8750' ft

 

#3> FORESTDALE CREEK

Location: Between Carson Pass and Forestdale Divide to the East of the PCT route.
Topo Map.

Site Information and Reports from Forestdale CK

Daily Report from Forestdale CK

Latitude: 38.6824°N

Longitude: -119.9597°W

Elevation: 8017' ft

 

#4> Blue Lakes

Location: Southeast of Carson Pass. Trail Guide.
Topo Map.

Site Information and Reports from Blue Lakes

Daily Report from Blue Lakes Blue Lakes

Latitude: 38.6130°N

Longitude: -119.9310°W

Elevation: 8000' ft

 

#5> SILVER LAKE

Location: West Slope of Highway 88 West of Carson Pass. Visible at bottom of topo map.

Site Information and Reports from Silver Lake

Daily Report from Silver Lake

Latitude: 38.6780°N

Longitude: -120.1180°W

Elevation: 7100' ft

Real Time Ground Reporting Stations

Planning our gear selection for our hike South from Lake Tahoe we have referred to a reasonable selection of real-time ground reporting stations that inform about temp, wind, rain, snow, and humidity.

This real-time data gives us both current and historical knowledge of the range of temperatures we can expect to experience at various points down the trail.

This information establishes our gear selection range.

 

Fall-Winter-Spring
Weather Resources

snow cover

snow probability

weather & temp predictions

Snow cover on the Sierra Nevada graphical interface.

Sierra Nevada snow storm and snowfall probability forecasts.

Predictions of Sierra Nevada Weather Conditions.
Fall, Winter, and Spring. Fall, Winter, and Spring. Good for Summer hot & cold trends.

Trail Guide Information

comments?

This Weather Page, like the trail guide it is a part of, covers the High Sierra Trails from Meeks Bay along the Western Shore of Lake Tahoe down to the Mount Whitney Portal.

Therefore the trail guide splits into two branches departing the South Lake Tahoe Basin near Carson Pass. The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route tracks Southwest around Carson Pass on its way over Round Top onto the low Western Flank of the Sierra Nevada along the rough passage through Summit City Creek.

The Pacific Crest Trail hikes through Carson Pass passing along the Eastern fringe of the whole Round Top Massif following the high Eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada Crestline South to Ebbetts Pass.

National Forests
at
Carson Pass and Highway 88

SW: El Dorado and E: Toiyabe
National Forests

Who Administers What?

Carson Pass:
Carson Pass Management Area

East Slope:
Toiyabe National Forest.

West Slope:
El Dorado National Forest
.

North:
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

Wilderness
South of Highway 88

West Flank
Mokelumne Wilderness, El Dorado National Forest.

East Flank
Mokelumne Wilderness, Toiyabe National Forest.

Trail Guide Section Index

 

Carson Pass Region Hiking Map                                        Carson Pass Region Weather Map

Maps

Pacific Crest Trail Index

Tahoe to Yosemite Index

Miles & Elevations

Pacific Crest Trail to Ebbetts Pass

Tahoe to Yosemite to Lake Alpine

Trail Guide Pages: Click Red Dots

Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass

Echo Summit to Lake Alpine

Carson Pass reporting stations laid out on a hiking map.

North: Lake Tahoe Basin Weather                  Carson Pass Trail Map                              South: Ebbetts Pass & Lake Alpine

Be Ready for the Range: Basic Facts Basic High Sierra Weather Resources for the Backpacker

The Sierra Crest is noted for having the capacity to produce four seasons of weather during a single Summer Day.

Rain, snow, hail, fog, lightening, and a bit of sunshine can all happen in quick sequence.

The High Sierras are noted for rapid changes in weather and temperature, and the sudden appearance of harsh weather trends. You may experience anything from intense heat to bitterly cold Summer snow storms. Or you may not.

In any case, weather must be considered and proper gear preparations made to deal with the range of weather BEFORE entering the High Sierras.

Long Distance Backpackers who were on the High Sierra Crest in early August of 2009 experienced just such a series of Summer Snow Storms.

Temperatures dropped to the high teens and low twenties, snow and hail fell which partially obscured the trails, and all of those who entertained the misconception that the Sierras only have fine weather during the Summertime were bitterly disappointed. Luckily for the many backcountry travelers who were not properly prepared, those storms blew apart, rather than consolidated and deepened.

Weather considerations should guide your gear selection.

Weather Preparations for Backcountry Travel

All Seasons

All Seasons
1st:

Tahoe to Whitney
Complete
High Sierra Weather Resources

Next, check the National Weather Service Satellites, Maps, and Forecasts

(on the TW Weather page above)

The NWS Satellites will give you an orbital view of potiential storm activity far off the coast of California. Combined with the NWS Maps and Forecasts, you can anticipate weather. Note: especially check the 28km infrared and water vapor animations.

Check the National Weather Service Maps

NWS Maps Note: Especially Check the 24 to 48 Hour fronts and Precipitation Maps.

Consult the National Weather Service Home Page

The National Weather Service Home Page displays large and small scale weather warnings which may pertain to your High Sierra backpacking plans.

 

 

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Backpacker Forums

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TahoetoWhitney.Org

Anyone can post up comments and questions in existing topics posted on the High Sierra Backpacking Trails Forums or in the High Sierra Backpacking Topics Forums.
But only members can post up new topics, and can post images and maps with their posts.

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If you have comments about weather conditions at Carson Pass this is the place to post up:
Carson Pass Weather Forum

North: Lake Tahoe Basin Weather                 Carson Pass Trail Map                      South: Ebbetts Pass & Lake Alpine

Trailhead
Contact
Alex Wierbinski

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Backpacking Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney

Your guide to the High Sierra Crest, including the Tahoe to Yosemite, Pacific Crest, and John Muir Trails

Bear at Silver King Creek, Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
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