Killer Sunset at The Sisters near Carson Pass
Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Crown Jewel of the Pacific Crest Trail
Need a Map? Lost Al near Lost Keys Lake
Emigrant Wilderness under Tropical Thunderstorm, September.
Round Top Lake
Whitebarks and Grizzly Peak in Emigrant Wilderness under Tropical Clouds during September 2013
Lost Keys Lake
 

Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney
Trail Guide, Magazine, & High Sierra Backpacker's Trails and Topics Forums


HIGH SIERRA BACKPACKER'S
Calendar

 

April
2018

 

Important Seasonal Happenings, Transitions, Events, & Dates
for
High Sierra Backpackers

 

Road Conditions, Resupply, Seasonal Transition Concerns, Permit Dates, Weather, Water, and Mosquitoes

 

 
2018
High Sierra
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of
2018
2018
Natural Meltdown
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INDEX
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MILES
INDEX
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2018
High Sierra
Backpacking Calendar

January         February         March         April         May         June

July         August         September         October          November         December

 

INDEX

 

April
2018

Last Week of March

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

TRAILHEAD

Last Year

 

April Snowstorm climbs the East Sierra
over
Carson Falls

Sitting below the Pacific Crest Trail on the Eastern Edge of Carson Iceberg Wilderness-Stanislaus National Forest

East Carson River just below PCT under April Snow.

Looking back, Northwest by the compass, as we climb South up into the East Carson River up towards the PCT under a light Snow in April of 2000. The PCT runs the ridge in the background. We'll get up there soon. At the position above we are climbing up to Carson Falls on our way following the East Carson River a bit short of nine miles up to the PCT. Entry was through Rodriquez Flat, above the town of Walker on Highway 395.

Trail Forum            Map           Miles and Elevations (PCT)

End of March

 

April 2018

January      February      March       April      May      June    July     August     September       October      November      December

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Open"
Spring Conditions
in
2018 ?

Typically,
Access Depends on Conditions.
Conditions on the ground, NOT a date on the calendar determines our gear and skills requirements.

Spring has been clearing mountain trails earlier and earlier over the the last twenty-five years, and especially the last seven years.

 

2018

A Weak Snow Pack as of April 1

 

Spring of 2018

 

Danger
We've seen a long trend of earlier and earlier Spring Openings of Sierra Crest Trails, creating expectations of early openings. This year was following trend until our wet March, bringing a quarter of normal snowpack up to half.

Though this still bodes well for early starts on the PCT & JMT, the die is not yet cast.

Warm Torrential Tropical Rains could yet scour the snow from the Sierra Crest, while a cold version of Tropical Rains could still deposit many more feet along the Sierra Crest and Flanks.

Both would be "tail" events, with the most likely outcome being a quick Spring Thaw under warm conditions, and an earlier than "average" opening of Sierra Crest Trails.

 

 

2017
"Open"
Spring Conditions?

NOT 2017:
HUGE PACK ON THE CREST


The 2017 Spring Thaw was Under
WINTER SNOW CONDITIONS

 

 

2016
A slightly below average snowpack

MARCH
27

High
Off West Coast of USA

Clear and Warm

Warm Days-Cold Nights

 

Summer Conditions

 

2018
Snowpack:

Percent of Average for
March 27
+/- change since
March 23

N Sierra: 48%
(+4%)

Cen. Sierra: 65%
(=%)

S Sierra: 56%
(-1%)

Ca State: 58%
(+2%)

Last
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

After the 25th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 22nd of March.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
March 23, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 47" -6
7618 feet
(31.4 H2O) +.4
33 & 29 +/+

Echo Peak 75" -5
7652 feet
(43.8 ?H2O) -.2
37 & 17 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 87" -7
8388 feet
(27.5" H2O) +.2
33 & 13 +/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 93 " -8
8660 feet
(40.1" H2O) =.0
33 & 15 +/-

Leavitt Lke 144" -8
(errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(30.3" H20) -.61
26 & 8 +/-

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
38 & 9 +/-


Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(29.16" ?H20) +0.12
(BAD?)
45 & 17 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 56.91" -4.62
8163 feet, West Flank
(17.05) ?H20 +0.51
50 & 27 +/+

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
36.72" -5.51
47 & 11 +/-

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
69.04" Snow -5.56
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(23.15" H2O) -.15 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
119.65" Snow -3.13
(37.52" H2O) =0.00
50 & 13 +/-

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.1 H2O??) =.0
33 & 13 -/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
38.2" Snow -6.7
50 & 5 +/-

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
62.5" Snow +1.01
35 & 13 +/+
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-five fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-five fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
March 27.

N Sierra: 145%

Cen. Sierra: 174%

S Sierra: 166%

 

Ca State: 163%

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Last Reading:
March 1

 

MARCH
28

High
Off West Coast of USA

Clear and Warm

Warm Days-Warm Nights

 

 

 



Top



 

Selected
Weather Resources

Surface Low Pressure Tracks

Radar

Visible Satellites

Water Vapor Satellites

 

MAPS

 

Sierra Forecasts

Western US Forecasts

 

Precip Animation & Charts

Graphical Precip Forecast

 

All Sierra Snow Info

Sierra Sensor Networks

 

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

 

High Sierra Highways

 

All Weather Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Clear. Big High building off Coast of California.

MARCH
29

High Weakens
Off West Coast of USA

Cloud Cover and Warm

Warm Days-Warm Nights

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Clear. Vast High building off Coast of California, Temps building.

Current
Pac Surface Map

General Weather Status

Tropical Activity Moderate off NE coast of Indonesia.

Vast Low in N Cen Pac sucking up most Tropical Moisture from Indonesia...

VAST HIGH OFF CA COAST deflecting most of the rest of this moisture around us.

TEMPS WARMING,
But still cool.

Our expanding stationary High will warm things up and begin the Spring Thaw in earnest during the next couple of days.

 

MARCH
30

High Weakens
Off West Coast of USA

Cloud Cover and Warm

Warm Days-Warm Nights

A bit Cooler

 

 

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Clear. Vast High building off Coast of California, Temps building. Windy.

 

SAFETY FIRST
Cayenne's First Aid Approach

2017
"I honestly think that very few people will complete the PCT this year because the Cascades have had an amazing amount of snow too. Crater Lake, Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Hood and Mt. Baker are all having record snow years too."

 

Top

MARCH
31

Instability
Off West Coast of USA

Less Cloud Cover, Clear, and Warm

Warm Days-Warm Nights

A bit Cooler

A flurry of weak local Lows lay atop a great High Pressure Ridge off West Coast of USA.

No precip whatsoever

 

SUMMER
Backpackers

Time again to begin observing Winter transitioning into Spring

SPRING
Backpackers

Time to begin tracking the weather to find and get in this year's last snow trips before the Spring Thaw begins in Earnest.

 

 

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

After the 25th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 22nd of March.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
March 27, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 44" -3
7618 feet
(31.4 H2O) =.0
57 & 38 +/+

Echo Peak 65" -10
7652 feet
(43.8 ?H2O) =.0
57 & 37 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 67" -20
8388 feet
(27.5" H2O) =.0
56 & 30 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 82 " -11
8660 feet
(40.2" H2O) +.1
57 & 34 +/+

Leavitt Lke 135" -9
(errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(39.6" H20) +9.3
51 & 32 +/+

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
65 & 22 +/+


Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(29.28" ?H20) +0.12
(BAD?)
51 & 21 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 51.91" -5.00
8163 feet, West Flank
(17.05) ?H20 =0.00
56 & 26 +/-

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
31.09" -5.63
53 & 20 +/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
59.03" Snow -10.01
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(22.68" H2O) -.47 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
106.38" Snow -13.27
(37.64" H2O) +.12
58 & 30 +/+

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.1 H2O??) =.0
59 & 26 +/+

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
26.21" Snow -11.99
51 & 26 +/+

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
54.53" Snow -7.97
48 & 30 +/+
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-five fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-five fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Clear. Vast High building off Coast of California, Temps building. Windy.

 

PREVIOUS:

BACKPACKER ALERT
March 22, 2017

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

High Weakens
Off West Coast of USA

Cloud Cover, Clear, and Warm

Warm Days-Warm Nights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

Snow & Temps

 

 

2017

BACKPACKER ALERT
April 1, 2017

Standing
Terrain Hazard Alert

Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
April 1.

N Sierra: 147%

Cen. Sierra: 175%

S Sierra: 166%

Ca State: 164%

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Cal Coop Snow Survey

Last Readings:

March 27

March 1

2017
Clear. Big High building off Coast of California. Staying cold on the Crest.

Weather Page

Daily Snow Sensor Report
2017

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps:

 

2

High Weakens
Off West Coast of USA

Clear and Warm

Warm Days-Warm Nights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Clear. Big High building off Coast of California. Staying cold on the Crest.

High-Low pattern in North Pacific opening up a potential tropical transport window in four-five days?

 

3

High Weakens
Off West Coast of USA

Clear and Warm

Warm Days-Warm Nights

 

 

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 3
+/- change since
March 27

N Sierra: 41%
(-7%)

Cen. Sierra: 59%
(-6%)

S Sierra: 49%
(-7%)

Ca State: 51%
(-7%)

Last
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

After the 25th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 22nd of March.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
March 31, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 39" -5
7618 feet
(31.4 H2O) =.0
49 & 35 -/-

Echo Peak 57 " -8
7652 feet
(43.7 ?H2O) -.1
50 & 34 -/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 64" -3
8388 feet
(27.54" H2O) -.1
48 & 29 -/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 75 " -7
8660 feet
(40.2" H2O) =.0
49 & 29 -/-

Leavitt Lke 129" -6
(errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(39.6" H20) =0.0
42 & 28 -/-

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
59 & 29 -/+


Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(28.92" ?H20) -0.36
(BAD?)
45 & 15 -/-

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 47.03" -4.88
8163 feet, West Flank
(17.05) ?H20 =0.00
51 & 23 -/-

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
31.09" -4.02
53 & 19 =/-

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
53.56" Snow -5.47
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(22.34" H2O) -.34 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
100.18" Snow -6.2
(37.72" H2O) +.08
51 & 26 -/-

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.1 H2O??) =.0
56 & 20 -/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
26.21" Snow -2.91
47 & 17 -/-

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
52.18" Snow -2.35
48 & 22 -/-
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-five fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-five fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

 

 

 

 

2017

Snow & Temps

 

 

2017
Clear. Big Highs moving East off of Coast of California.
Big Low forming in Gulf Alaska.
CREST WARMING UP,
Alley between Low & High for Tropical Moisture Transport opening up.

Substantial blast of precip heading our way in 4-5 days. Question is, how warm will it be?

Warm rains across the crest bring disaster.
2017
Below
: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps:

 

 

4


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Hazy from cold trop Front off shore stretching from North of Hawall to the Low it's anchored to in Gulf Alaska.
There are a set of Lows behind this Front, each carrying potentially more moisture.

Why? Right now increasing T Storm activity is hugging N Coast of Indonisa, and its surrounding waters are warming.

Temps in the Cen Pac are currently rising. More moisture is pouring into the atmosphere down there.

That potentially charges up the transport mechanisms.

All the cards are still on the table for a wide range of epic Spring Thaw outcomes. The game certainly is on, and we will see how it all plays out.

 

5

Low
Off NW Coast of USA

Tropical Transport Mechanism Front Lines Approach

 

STORM WARNINGS

 

High Temps
Rain Across the Sierra Crest

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

Before the 26th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 22nd of March.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
April 3, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 36" -3
7618 feet
(31.5 H2O) +.1
53 & 37 +/+

Echo Peak 53 " -4
7652 feet
(43.5 ?H2O) -.2
53 & 40 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 58" -6
8388 feet
(27.50" H2O) -.04
53 & 32 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 72 " -3
8660 feet
(40.1" H2O) -.1
53 & 36 +/+

Leavitt Lke 126" -3
(errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(39.6" H20) =0.0
47 & 33 +/+

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
63 & 31 +/+


Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(29.04" ?H20) +0.12
(BAD?)
55 & 31 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 47.03" -2.31
8163 feet, West Flank
(17.05) ?H20 =0.00
54 & 32 +/+

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
31.09" -5.34
52 & 31 -/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
50.47" Snow -3.09
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(22.01" H2O) -.33 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
100.18" Snow -4.32
(37.8" H2O) +.08
56 & 29 +/+

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.1 H2O??) =.0
55 & 35 +/+

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
26.21" Snow -4.71
49 & 31 +/+

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
49.96" Snow -2.22
44 & 31 -/+
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-five fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-five fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

 

 

 

2017

Snow & Temps

 

 

2017
Hazy from cold trop Front off shore stretching from North of Hawall to the Low it's anchored to in Gulf Alaska.
There are a set of Lows behind this Front, each carrying potentially more moisture.
STEADY CREST WARMING

 

 

6

Low
Off NW Coast of USA

Tropical Transport Mechanism Front Lines Approach

 

WARM & WET

 

 

 

TOP

 

 

 

Selected
Weather Resources

Surface Low Pressure Tracks

Radar

Visible Satellites

Water Vapor Satellites

 

MAPS

 

Sierra Forecasts

Western US Forecasts

 

Precip Animation & Charts

Graphical Precip Forecast

 

All Sierra Snow Info

Sierra Sensor Networks

 

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

 

High Sierra Highways

 

All Weather Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

Snow & Temps

 

 

 

2017
STORM WARNING
Temps above freezing overnight along N Sierra Crest. AM precip, scattered showers through day strengthening into evening.

This storm is adding to the difficulty of those few PCT hikers who have the skill and gear necessary to access the existing massive snow pack at this early date.

Those who were attempting to cross the snow covered Sierra without the proper gear are currently being schooled, and are trying to figure how they can get down and out as quickly as possible.

Daytime Temps above freezing to 10,000 feet or so... which means lots of cold, freezing rain with sleet into snow, depending on how high or low we go. Nasty.

For Something Completely Different,
(Than 2017!):

See 2015 Report
2015: KM to Open last weekend of this month.

2016
Heat Wave Records

24 hr High-Low & Snow Dp.
2016 Station REPORTS
Carson Pass
54 & 31 degrees, 69"

Ebbetts Pass
53 & 31 degrees, 67"

Sonora Pass
54 & 28 degrees, 55"

Tuolumne Meadows
63 & 25 degrees, 25"

 

7

Low
Off NW Coast of USA

Tropical Transport Mechanism Front Lines crosses Sierra

End of Rain

 

High Building In

 

 

 

SPRING THAW

RIVER INFORMATION


RESERVOIRS

 

 

 

 

 

note extreme rainfall over last 24 hours in bold

 

 

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

After the 26th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 22nd of March.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
April 5, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 32" -4
7618 feet
(31.5 H2O) +2.6
46 & 37 -/=

Echo Peak 48 " -5
7652 feet
(43.5 ?H2O) +5.5
45 & 36 -/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 53" -5
8388 feet
(29.70" H2O) +2.2
45 & 36 -/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 66" -6
8660 feet
(42.6" H2O) +2.5
43 & 34 -/-

Leavitt Lke 120" -6
(errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(42.1" H20) +2.5
44 & 34 -/+

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
56 & 31 -/+


Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(30.84" ?H20) +1.8
(BAD?)
42 & 35 -/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 39.38" -7.65
8163 feet, West Flank
(20.92) ?H20 +3.87
45 & 37 -/+

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
22.73" -8.36
42 & 35 -/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
47.71" Snow -2.76
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono -Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(20.81" H2O) -1.2 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
91.9" Snow -8.28
(41.4" H2O) +3.6
56 & 29 +/+

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.4 H2O??) +.3
49 & 39 -/+

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
16.6" Snow -9.61
45 & 36 -/+

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
44.4" Snow -5.56
42 & 35 -/+
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-six fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-six fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

 

 

2017

Snow & Temps

 

 

 

2017
STORM WARNING
Temps above freezing until 6 pm last evening brought rain then HEAVY SNOW:
AVALANCHE DANGER

Steady showers, cooling.

 

 

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

8

 

High
Off West Coast USA

Low
Gulf Alaska

 

Dry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

 

2017
STORM WARNING
AM STORM diminishing into messy remnants clearing into what looks like will be a brief visit from a clear, cool High.

COLD WARNING TONIGHT

There is a weak, but potentially very wet Low & front behind it. Messy times ahead.

9

 

High
Compressing Off West Coast USA

Low
Gulf Alaska

 

Dry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
COLD WARNING
Clear & Cold as long as the High off the Coast of Ca. holds up. A Day? Through tomorrow?

Weak Front attached to Low exiting Gulf Alaska will drag across N Sierra late on the 10th.

Weak, but steady Sierra storm activity 11th through 14th. Messy.

WARNINGS
ANOTHER COLD NIGHT

MASSIVE SNOWPACK

ANOTHER STORM COMING

10

 

Low
Gulf Alaska

Weak Tropical Transport Mechanism Front Lines crosses Sierra

High
Compressing Off West Coast USA

Light Precip
Between the Two

 

 

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 10
+/- change since
April 3

N Sierra: 36%
(-5%)

Cen. Sierra: 51%
(-8%)

S Sierra: 39%
(-10%)

Ca State: 43%
(-8%)

Last
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

During the 27th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 5th of April.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
April 7, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 29" -3
7618 feet
(34.3 H2O) +2.8
57 & 35 +/-

Echo Peak 43 " -5
7652 feet
(43.5 ?H2O) +5.0
62 & 35 +/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 50" -3
8388 feet
(29.70" H2O) =0.0
61 & 31 +/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 62" -4
8660 feet
(42.6" H2O) =0.0
60 & 30 +/-

Leavitt Lke 116" -4
(errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(42.1" H20) =0.0
57 & 35 +/+

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
72 & 24 +/-


Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(30.96" ?H20) +.12
(BAD?)
56 & 32 +/-

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 39.38" -2.89
8163 feet, West Flank
(20.92) ?H20 =0.00
62 & 30 +/-

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
22.73" -3.03
61 & 27 +/-

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
47.71" Snow -.36
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono -Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(20.81" H2O) -.19 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
86.39" Snow -5.51
(41.28" H2O) =.00
64 & 35 +/+

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.4 H2O??) =.0
64 & 37 +/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
13.4" Snow -3.2
54 & 34 +/-

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
41.6" Snow -2.8
52 & 33 +/-
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-seven fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-seven fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 


2017
Clear & warming with approach of front.

April 1 Backpacker Alert:
Travel Hazard in Effect
.

WATCHES
Cold Hazard
Storm Weather Hazard

 

11

 

Low
Gulf Alaska

Weak Tropical Transport Mechanism Front Lines crosses Sierra

High
Compressing Off West Coast USA

Moderate Precip Between the Two

 

Temps Plunge Overnight

 

 

Rain to and over the
Sierra Crest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Overcast & warm with landfall of weak front.
Light Precip N Ca.

SOME TEEN TEMPS
LAST NIGHT

Sloppy. Weak, gusty, & messy.
Afternoon: high 30s at 10000 feet up & down Crest.

 

12

 

High
Building Off West Coast of USA

Clearing

 

 

MAPS

 

 

 

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 12
+/- change since
April 10

N Sierra: 35%
(-1%)

Cen. Sierra: 47%
(-4%)

S Sierra: 36%
(-3%)

Ca State: 41%
(-2%)

Last
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

After the 27th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 5th of April.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
April 10,, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 29" +0
7618 feet
(34.3 H2O) =0.0
45 & 22 -/-

Echo Peak 43 " -5
7652 feet
(49.5 ?H2O) +6.0
44 & 23 -/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 51" +1
8388 feet
(29.80" H2O) +0.1
43 & 20 -/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 61" -1
8660 feet
(42.9" H2O) +0.3
42 & 19 -/-

Leavitt Lke 121" +5
(errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(42.5" H20) +0.4
40 & 17 -/-

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
56 & 25 -/+


Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(30.84" ?H20) -.12
(BAD?)
46 & 11 -/-

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 33.12" -6.26
8163 feet, West Flank
(21.02) ?H20 +0.10
47 & 8 -/-

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
19.66" -3.07
46 & 6 -/-

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
44.52" Snow -3.19
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono -Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(20.64" H2O) -.17 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
85.23" Snow -1.16
(41.44" H2O) +.24
46 & 10 -/-

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.4 H2O??) =.0
52 & 16 -/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
13.1" Snow -.3
48 & 14 -/-

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
41.09" Snow -.51
49 & 11 -/-
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-seven fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-seven fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
STORM WARNING
Weak warm front across Sierra, looks like afternoon rain and snow across crest.
Nasty, Wet, Cold Conditions...

It is a more dangerous cold when it's warmer and wetter than frozen-solid cold.

 

Backpacking Plans?
Are our hiking plans and conditions on the ground in agreement?

 

 

2015
Earliest trail Opening in High Sierra History developing this year.

2016
Slight Below Average Snow,
EXCESSIVE HEAT.
Tahoe to Whitney Plan

2017
Record snowfall getting ready to unleash a record-level thaw.

 

 


13

 

Big High
Building Off West Coast of USA

Clear
Warm Days
Cold Nights

 

TOP

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

SPRING THAW

RIVER INFORMATION


RESERVOIRS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

 

 

2017
STORM WARNING
CLEARING
Weak warm front clearing, almost across Sierra.

14

 

 

View of Sierra on April 13 by the...

MODIS
SIERRA SATELLITE

 

All Sat Views

 

 

 

 

 

Selected
Weather Resources

 

Surface Low Pressure Tracks

 

Radar

 

Visible Satellites

 

Water Vapor Satellites

 

MAPS

 

Sierra Forecasts

 

Western US Forecasts

 

Precip Animation & Charts

 

Graphical Precip Forecast

 

All Sierra Snow Info

 

Sierra Sensor Networks

 

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

 

High Sierra Highways

 

All Weather Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
COLD WARNING
Clearing with brief High building in & out between Spring Storms...

Cooling.

WATCHES
Cold Hazard Rising

Truncated Report Today:
Al fell down and could not get up!

APPROACHING:
STORM CONDITION
NIGHTS OF THE 16th-20th
WEATHER HAZARD

Last Storm Weather Hazard Ending COLD, next storm approaches.

 

NEW ORDER
Temp & Snow Tables by Watershed and Highway Corridor

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

15

Low
Border of Ca-Or & Coast

Weak Tropical Transport Mechanism Front Line stretches South down the Coast, then bends SW towards Hawaii

SHOWERS

Big High
Building Off West Coast of USA

Last Week's Snow Reports

 

SKI RESORTS SHUTTING DOWN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

2017
COLD WARNING
Clearing with brief High building in & out between Spring Storms...

WATCHES
Cold Hazard Decreasing with approach of storm

 

16

Weak Low
On Coastline N of SF

Tropical Instability
Showers

COLD & TROPICAL
AIR MIXING

Big Highs
Building Off West Coast
of USA

Gulf Alaska Low
Headed Our Way

 

 

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 16
+/- change since
April 12

N Sierra: 37%
(+2%)

Cen. Sierra: 47%
(=%)

S Sierra: 35%
(-1%)

Ca State: 41%
(=%)

Last
April 12
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

After the 28th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 12th of April.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
April 12, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 37" +7
7618 feet
(34.3 H2O) +0.9
46 & 22 =/=

Echo Peak 50 " +7
7652 feet
(50.6 ?H2O) +1.1
44 & 22 =/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 56" +5
8388 feet
(29.80" H2O) +0.7
45 & 21 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 61" +14
8660 feet
(44.2" H2O) +1.3
43 & 21 +/+

Leavitt Lke 136" +15
(errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(44.2" H20) +1.7
39 & 24 -/+

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
57 & 34 +/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(30.84" ?H20) +1.2
(BAD?)
30 & 13 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 38.48" +5.36
8163 feet, West Flank
(21.18) ?H20 +0.16
35 & 19 -/+

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
19.66" +4.71
33 & 15 -/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
44.3" Snow -.22
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono -Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(21.1" H2O) +.46 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
??.??" Snow --.--
(41.44" H2O) +1.4
32 & 13 -/+

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.5 H2O??) +.1
33 & 14 -/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
13.2" Snow +.1
29 & 11 -/-

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
41.09" Snow -.51
27 & 6 -/-
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-eight fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-eight fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
STORM WARNING
Wet, Weak, & Warm Spring Storms are here...

WATCHES
Cold ended, NEW Storm Warning, Thaw, & Flooding too...

 

Truncated Report Today:
Al fell down and could not get up!

 

 

17


Big Highs
Building Onto West Coast
of USA

Clear & Crisp
Warming

Weak
Gulf Alaska Low
Headed Our Way

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

2017
STORM WARNING
Wet, Weak, & Warm Spring Storms are here...

 

2016
Hot Day

 

ROADS OPENED AROUND THIS DATE
2015

 

ROAD REPORTS

ROAD CLOSURE HISTORY

 

 

18


Weak Low
Approaching Coastline N of SF

 


 

 

 

 

 


2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 18
+/- change since
April 16

N Sierra: 37%
(-%)

Cen. Sierra: 51%
(+4%)

S Sierra: 37%
(-2%)

Ca State: 44%
(+3%)

Last
April 16
April 12
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

After the 29th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 12th of April.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
April 16, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 30" -7
7618 feet
(35.3 H2O) +1.0
37 & 18 -/-

Echo Peak 43 " -7
7652 feet
(50.6 ?H2O) =0.0
39 & 16 -/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 50" -6
8388 feet
(30.5" H2O) +0.7
40 & 9 -/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 66" +5
8660 feet
(44.7" H2O) +.5
39 & 12 -/-

Leavitt Lke 127" -9 (errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(44.5" H20) +0.3
37 & 8 -/-

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
34 & 22 -/-

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(32.16" ?H20) +1.32
(BAD?)
41 & 16 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 33.56" -4.92
8163 feet, West Flank
(21.70) ?H20 +0.52
39 & 19 +/=

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
17.13" -2.53
40 & 17 +/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
40.26" Snow -4.04
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono -Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(21.12" H2O) +.02 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
88.21" Snow --.--
(43.16" H2O) +1.72
44 & 19 +/+

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.5 H2O??) =.0
45 & 16 +/+

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
11.1" Snow -2.1
35 & 14 +/+

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
40.43" Snow -.66
27 & 6 -/-
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-nine fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-nine fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
STORM WARNING
Wet, Weak, & Warm Spring Storms are here...

Sierra got pounded last night. By "pounded," I mean overnight temps stayed above freezing up to 9500 feet last night.

Check the station readings today compared to yesterday...

I called a Flood Watch on the 16th, and this thing is getting wetter & wetter.

It's warming up & getting ready to cut loose...

 

ACTIVE HAZARDS
Spring Travel Dangers
INCREASING

Wet-Cold

Snowpack Softening

Stream & Creek Undercutting.

Fords Rising

 

High Sierra
Snow Analyses

All Snow Data

 

Especially See the
APRIL 1 BACKPACKER
ALERT

 

Auga-Alerts?

19

Big Highs
Off West Coast of USA

Clearing & Warming

 

East Sierra Low

 

MAPS

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

2017
Front clearing, clearing skies bring cooling. Clear Spot. Spring Instability, next front coming quickly this evening! Weak:

STORM WARNING

COLD WARNING

COLD

2017
REPORT

Kennedy Meadows
Pack Station


Report from Matt Bloom of Kennedy Meadows Pack Station.

"PCT hikers in the snow for a long ways & time this year."

"KM will be Opening for Trout Season on APRIL 28, come on up."

Sonora Pass: "It looks like Sonora Pass will open between Memorial Day Weekend and Mid-June, is my guess right now, but this depends on weather."

This will be a slow Summer in the mountains and a short season for the High Country."

Make your time count!

2015
Carson Pass 2 inches
Road Open

Ebbetts Pass 0 inches
Road Open

Sonora Pass 2 inches
Road Open

 

 

20

 

TOP

 

 

SPRING THAW

RIVER INFORMATION


RESERVOIRS

 

 

Selected
Weather Resources

 

Surface Low Pressure Tracks

 

Radar

 

Visible Satellites

 

Water Vapor Satellites

 

MAPS

 

Sierra Forecasts

 

Western US Forecasts

 

Precip Animation & Charts

 

Graphical Precip Forecast

 

All Sierra Snow Info

 

Sierra Sensor Networks

 

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

 

High Sierra Highways

 

All Weather Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
COLD WARNING
Weak Front through last night, clear, High building.

 

Current Snowpack
VAST
Percent of Average for
April 1.

N Sierra: 182%

Cen. Sierra: 197%

S Sierra: 182%

Ca State: 189%

Compare against previous years.

 

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Cal Coop Snow Survey

 

Last Readings:

April 1

March 27

March 1

 

 

2016:
Hot
THE BLOB RETURNS
NW US

 

 

 

 

NONE IN 2017

"De-Formalized"

 

ADZPCTKO.org
NONE IN 2016

 

TWO
2015 EVENTS
April 22-24
April 24-26



21

Big High
Off West Coast of USA

Clear & Warm

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

After the 29th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 12th of April.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temps.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
April 18, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 25" -5
7618 feet
(35.5 H2O) +0.2
52 & 31 +/+

Echo Peak 35 " -8
7652 feet
(49.7 ?H2O) -0.9
53 & 30 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 44" -6
8388 feet
(30.6" H2O) +0.1
52 & 24 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 58" -8
8660 feet
(44.7" H2O) =.0
52 & 27 +/+

Leavitt Lke 117" -10 (errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(44.6" H20) +0.1
50 & 26 +/+

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
61 & 29 +/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(32.64" ?H20) +0.48
(BAD?)
58 & 24 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 28.24" -5.32
8163 feet, West Flank
(21.70) ?H20 =0.0
61 & 27 +/+

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
10.99" -6.14
61 & 24 +/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
38.31" Snow -1.95
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono -Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(21.24" H2O) +.12 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
82.18" Snow -6.03
(43.48" H2O) +.32
64 & 29 +/+

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.5 H2O??) =.0
62 & 26 +/+

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
9.80" Snow -1.3
52 & 24 +/+

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
39.47" Snow -.96
49 & 28 +/+
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-nine fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-nine fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

2017
NICE WEATHER WARNING
Did not get cold at all last night on first look. Big High building, Clearing Nice with a warm start.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

TOP

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

22

Big High
Off West Coast of USA

Clear & Warm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps


 

2017
Cloudy as big weak front line passes overhead as this High builds in.

It's warming up. This thaw is about to cut loose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014
KM Opening
Very Early

2014
Small Storm REPORT

 

23

Big High
Off West Coast of USA

Clear & Warm

 

MAPS

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Staying cool

24

Big High
Off West Coast of USA

Clear & Warm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

2017
Sloppy high clouds part of weak front attached to weak Low passing onshore in central Washington.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016 Post Stormlet
Snotel Station Reports

Carson Pass
44 & 21 degrees, 56"

Ebbetts Pass
46 & 21 degrees, 49"

Sonora Pass
45 & 21 degrees, 47"

Tuolumne Meadows
47 & 23 degrees, 0"

25

Big High
Off West Coast of USA

Clear & Warm

 

Spring
Gear Change Approaches

 

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 25
+/- change since
April 18

N Sierra: 22%
(-15%)

Cen. Sierra: 46%
(-5%)

S Sierra: 28%
(-9%)

Ca State: 37%
(+7%)

Last
April 18
April 12
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

After the 29th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 12th of April.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temps.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
April 21, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 21" -4
7618 feet
(35.5 H2O) =0.0
56 & 39 +/+

Echo Peak 27 " -8
7652 feet
(49.7 ?H2O) =0.0
60 & 40 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 36" -8
8388 feet
(30.6" H2O) =0.0
59 & 35 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 50" -8
8660 feet
(44.7" H2O) =.0
58 & 35 +/+

Leavitt Lke 111" -6 (errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(44.65" H20) -0.1
54 & 34 +/+

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
70 & 27 +/-

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(32.52" ?H20) -0.12
(BAD?)
63 & 27 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 28.24" -7.04
8163 feet, West Flank
(21.70) ?H20 =0.0
63 & 28 +/+

Tuolumne Meadows
2.90" -8.09
8600 feet, West Flank
61 & 27 =/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
33.14" Snow -5.17
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono -Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(20.62" H2O) -.62 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
74.06" Snow -8.12
(43.52" H2O) +.04
62 & 35 -/+

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.5 H2O??) =.0
61 & 34 -/+

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
5.90" Snow -3.9
55 & 31 +/+

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
35.82" Snow -3.65
49 & 28 +/+
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-nine fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-nine fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Sloppy high clouds part of weak front attached to weak Lows passing onshore in central Washington.

This pattern of Lows, fairly cold Lows coming across the North-Centrail Pacific and rotating aound the top a High off the Central-South California Coast has rotated this cold, wet, semi-tropical moisture around its Northern perimeter and down its Eastern edge, which has swept these high clouds, overcast, and spitting weather across the Sierra Crest for the last four days.

26

Weak Low
Off NWest Coast of USA

Cooling

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

2017
Staying cool, cloudy, with weak unstable weather.

High growing and moving North off the Coast of Caliornia, but the West Pacific is brewing up some huge tropical storms & tropical activity...

Sloppy precip should be ending as High builds in and moves North.

27

Weak Lows
Off NWest Coast of USA
&
North of Hawaii

Cooling & Cloudy

 

 

SPRING THAW

RIVER INFORMATION


RESERVOIRS

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

 

 

Selected
Weather Resources

 

Surface Low Pressure Tracks

 

Radar

 

Visible Satellites

 

Water Vapor Satellites

 

MAPS

 

Sierra Forecasts

 

Western US Forecasts

 

Precip Animation & Charts

 

Graphical Precip Forecast

 

All Sierra Snow Info

 

Sierra Sensor Networks

 

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

 

High Sierra Highways

 

All Weather Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Staying cool, cloudy, with weak unstable weather.

High bigger & stronger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016
Weak Front/low pressure
Light Precip.
Potential for Rain across
Northern Sierra Crest

ALL PRECIP FORECAST RESOURCES

Radar Resources

Satellite Views

Run Rain & Snow Models

28

 

TOP

 

Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park to Open on Saturday, April 28, 2018,
Yosemite National Park, April 24, 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
High built in off West Coast of Ca, moisture still out there, but being deflected around us.

The series of weak lows dragging weak wet fronts continues around the perimeter of this High.

High strengthening.

Clear & warming.

Snowpack lost three inches since measurement on the 26th.

 

 

 

 

TOP

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

29

Unstable
NW Low passing N of Sierra

Cool-Clearing

 

 

 

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 29
+/- change since
April 25

N Sierra: 30%
(+8%)

Cen. Sierra: 44%
(-2%)

S Sierra: 31%
(+3%)

Ca State: 37%
(=%)

Last
April 25
April 18
April 12
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
Temp-Snow Check

After the 29th* Front-"storm" this Fall & Winter.

The last fronts before this incident came across on the 12th of April.

Let's check our reporting station snow & temps.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

Last Report:
April 25, 2018

A NEW WATER YEAR

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Rubicon 16" -5
7618 feet
(35.3 H2O) =-0.2
45 & 31 -/-

Echo Peak 20 " -7
7652 feet
(49.7 ?H2O) -0.9
43 & 30 -/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 32" -4
8388 feet
(30.5" H2O) -0.1
44 & 29 -/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 45 " -5
8660 feet
(44.6" H2O) -.1
41 & 28 -/-

Leavitt Lke 105" -6 (errors)
9602 feet, East Flank
(44.5" H20) -0.15
37 & 26 -/-

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
55 & 33 -/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek
9250 feet, West Flank
000.0 Snow (BAD?)
(32.4" ?H20) -0.12
(BAD?)
43 & 26 -/-

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 12.64" -15.6
8163 feet, West Flank
(21.70) ?H20 =0.0
44 & 29 -/+

Tuolumne Meadows
.24" -2.66
8600 feet, West Flank
46 & 27 -/=

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
21.44" Snow -11.7
--.--" H20) (ERROR?)
(Temps NONE)

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono -Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(20.94" H2O) +.32 Suspect Suspect
temps suspect

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
66.50" Snow -7.56
(43.52" H2O) =.00
46 & 25 -/-

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(18.5 H2O??) =.0
49 & 31 -/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
3.20" Snow -2.7
41 & 29 -/-

Kings River

Bishop Pass
11972 feet
BAD-
BAD

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet, West Flank
TEMPS ONLY

-- & -- BAD
(The coldest station)

Kern Watershed

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet
32.17" Snow -3.65
28 & 33 -/+
(station reporting again!)

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

*We've had more than twenty-nine fronts come across the Sierra, and periods of spitting snow, but only twenty-nine fronts of any substance.

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

All Sierra Forecast Zones

All Precip Forecasts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
High built in off West Coast of Ca growing, vast amounts of tropical moisture are still out there (N Cen Pac), but being deflected, transported around us by this large High.

This tropical moisture will hit us when the High-Low configuration decides it will hit us.

Tropical moisture feeding "Spring Instability" out of the tropics is sufficient, if not greater than "average," yet the Arcitc's excess warmth this Winter into Spring is keeping the Spring lows generated by the rising Equatorial heat from deepening as they are carried North.

Rising temps under this High are going to begin the thaw in earnest, though overnight temps have been remaining low.

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT MONTH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

 

2017

Spring Gear

Lighter than Winter, Heavier than Summer Gear. Maybe Now?

May 1

 

 

 

SPRING THAW

RIVER INFORMATION


RESERVOIRS

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

 

 

Selected
Weather Resources

 

Surface Low Pressure Tracks

 

Radar

 

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MAPS

 

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Precip Animation & Charts

 

Graphical Precip Forecast

 

All Sierra Snow Info

 

Sierra Sensor Networks

 

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

 

High Sierra Highways

 

All Weather Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

 

2017
Heat building

May 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

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2017
Heat Wave

May 3

 

 

 

Highway 108 Open, May 3, 12:00 Noon

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT MONTH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT MONTH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Heat Wave

 

May 4

 

TOP

 

Highway 4 Open, May 4, 12:00 Noon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

2017
Heat Wave & High broken.
Low pushing East with weak front passing over Sierra as next High builds in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

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2017
Clearing as instability-front passes & next High builds in.

Light sprinkles across North Sierra last night.

Lows East of Sierra look set to draw tropical moisture across Sierra for next couple of days out of the Southwest.

STORM WARNING

Weak snow-rain precip through Monday

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT MONTH

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2018

 

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November         December

 

2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar

2016 Calendar

2017 Calendar

Conditions Vs. Plans
Is there a huge snowpack?
None?


Have you Late Spring or Early Summer Hiking Plans?
Current conditions will tell you if your early season hiking plans are possible.

Let's compare:

APRIL 8 STATUS 2015
8% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 8 STATUS 2016
73% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 7 STATUS 2017
161% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 10 STATUS 2018
43% of Average Snowpack

 

 

APRIL 19 STATUS 2016
85% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 20 STATUS 2017
189% of Average Snowpack

2016
Things are very different this year than the past 5 years. Early heat this year may do more to close the trail than open it.
Rather than early dry conditions we may well face early and enduring early-season soggy conditions.

2017

IT'S ON

 

Ca Dept of Water Resources

 

High Sierra Backpacker Weather

 

SPRING THREATS ON FULL DISPLAY
BACKPACKER ALERT
April 1, 2017
The most important topic of this date is the massive snowpack on the Sierra Crest and the extreme danger it poses to PCT hikers. The dangers of High Altitude Snow Travel will soon be supplemented by very dangerous fording conditions when this snowpack begins to thaw.

These conditions require skills, gear, and fitness to assure any level of safe travel as of this date. Undercutting and safety along the banks of creeks emerging from snow cover is currently increasing, as will the difficulty of travel conditions increase as the pack softens under the increasing heat of Spring.

Extremely difficult travel conditions will soon shift from hard snow that defies traction to wet snow offering no foundation. We will shortly transition from barely clinging to the mountain-side to sinking up to our waists with each step. As Spring progresses cold mornings will bring the former condition, warm afternoons the latter.

The same temp shift driving the changing character of the snow pack will soon drive even the highest river fords to levels unsafe for fording, and make the major rivers raging torrents of destruction. These temp shifts change the character of the Sierra.

The snowpack itself will become sopping wet, saturating anything and anyone in contact with it. These are the times that hikers without sufficient insulation can find cold combining with exhaustion to degrade decision making as well as technical execution & style to create very dangerous situations. I see Wet, cold, and tired PCT hikers surrounded by a sea of deep, wet, energy-sucking snow divided by an endless series of raging torrents of typically tiny High Sierra creeks surging like rivers, each supercharged by Spring's mighty flows.

The trails will be flowing like creeks, when we get down to them. And they will lead to the mighty rivers, which will be downright scary, once this massive snow pack begins to melt in earnest.


STATUS NOTES

2017 OBSERVATIONS AND TRACKING

2017
WEATHER NOTE
of
April 19th

Note the pattern of a series of Highs & Lows I mentioned on the 15th has sustained itself through the 19th, & looks likely to contain one more wet pulse.
The pattern has seen Wet, Warm frontal/Lows followed by brief clear, cold Highs. Rapidly. This current cool High is giving way to another frontal Low, & it will warm into the 20th with that moisture as this pattern then breaks, followed by cooling with the clearing/High building from 21th to 24th.

Then some heat will build in from the 22nd, unless this series of Highs-Lows come back...

FULL NOTE-COMMENTS

 

 

APRIL 9 ANALYSIS
As of April 9 extreme Spring Snow travel conditions are reasonably predictable through July, barring any extreme heating or tropical rain activity. Both extreme heating and tropical rains are very possible, if not likely.

We will have some warm ups, we will have some downpours.

As of this day the pack has not softened appreciably, nor has the Spring Thaw begun to gut the pack. We are still facing classic cold Spring conditions, which are the easiest phase of Spring Snow Travel.

This will change rapidly.

A soft snowpack is very difficult to travel across, though a soft snowpack is a lot harder to fall off of. The danger of falling off the mountain will shortly be replaced by grasping, sucking snow that draws you down into it, and refuses to let go. It tries to work you to death, rather than toss you off the mountain... Very difficult...

When the snow gets soft the trails will be flowing like creeks, the creeks like rivers, and the rivers unpassable, once this snowpack gets to that level of saturation. Everything will get saturated, wet, and cold. Eveything.

Your gear better keep you warm when wet.

Thus this current "cold" part of the Spring Thaw is actually the best and easiest terrain for rapid movement, if the Spring Traveler is properly and throughly equipped, in fine physical condition, and capable of snow navigation without trail, sign, or ranger to guide.
We can still stay dry and on top of the snow.

These deep cold Spring conditions are not ideal conditions for lightly geared hikers, nor will they be for quite some time. Deep Cold and hard snow will first turn soft, and the transition from Dry to Wet cold is very dangerous.

Warm wet snow is much more dangerous than cold dry snow.

The key PCT questions will come in a series,
"When will the Thaw begin to soften and the snow become wet enough to make soft-snow passage very difficult and fording very dangerous?"

That time is approaching right now, as I write this on the 9th.

Then the next question will be, "when will enough of the Thaw pass to allow safe passage of key fords?"

We are Watching.

 

 

 

 

 

2016 OBSERVATIONS AND TRACKING

Snowpack Tracker

WHEN WILL THE SIERRA OPEN in 2016?

TRACKING 2016 CONDITIONS

It is TIME
Consult with Resupply Location Information to assure resupply buckets are mailed in a timely fashion.
Some will go early, some will be mailed later...

 

High Sierra Backpacker Resupply

 

2017

Epic.

NEWS
Let's Ski through July

 

2016
The potential for warm rains scouring the crest of snow long before the traditional date of the end of freezing temps, which was on May 26 2015.

The end of Freezing Temps may arrive in April or early May this Year, as indicated by trends.

The tropical storm of April 7 to 10 has brought above-freezing overnight temps to the North Sierra on April 9, which is just plumb crazy.

FREEZER FORECAST

 

 

 

The Past Prologues the Future

2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar       

   2016 Calendar

2017 Calendar

2015 REPORT
APRIL 2015
ASSESMENT
Earliest Trans-Sierra Highway Openings on Record?

YUP.

RESUPPLY TIPS
Always use plastic buckets to ship your resupply:
Any container a mouse can chew through or water can penetrate is at risk.

Think about what you'd like, as well as what you need in your resupply bucket.
A bottle of fine wine or quality whiskey is a nice thing on a cold Sierra night at the resupply with the bros...

 

BACKGROUND
The trajectory of the cold, rain, and snows of January provide both excellent backpacking experiences and establish the terms, a baseline for this year’s transition into Spring Conditions.

Regular storm activity laid atop a deep pack of Winter snows wrapped in cold temps indicate a long Winter into Spring transition.

Light snows and irregular storm activity sprinkled on a thin snow pack under high temperatures indicates an early and rapid transitions into Spring and Summer conditions.

 

Tahoe to Whitney

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2018

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July         August         September         October

November         December

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2016 Calendar

2017 Calendar

 

Trailhead
 
Contact
Alex Wierbinski

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Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney

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

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