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

 

December
2018

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Last Year
2017

 

THIS YEAR
News, Views, & Issues
December
2018
High Sierra
News
December
2018
Backpacker
Alerts
2018
Natural Meltdown
High Sierra
Backpacking
TOPICS
High Sierra
Backpacking
TRAILS
High Sierra
Backpacking
FITNESS
High Sierra
Backpacking
SKILLS

High Sierra
RESUPPLY
High Sierra
PERMITS
High Sierra
WEATHER
High Sierra
Trail
GUIDE
INDEX
High Sierra
Trail
MAPS
INDEX
High Sierra
Trail
MILES
INDEX
Download
FONT

 


2018
High Sierra
Backpacking Calendar

January         February         March         April         May         June

July         August         September         October         November         December

2019

INDEX

 

December
2018

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

TRAILHEAD

Next Year

Last Year

 

December 2018
Iconic sawtooth ridgeline on Mount Whitney
South of the final gentle climb to the Mount Whitney plateau

East Carson River just below PCT under April Snow.
Hiking past the iconic sawtooth ridge on our last steps to the great almost-flat plateau that is the crest of Mount Whitney.

Trail Guide           Map           Miles and Elevations
Not yet all online

December 2018

Top of Page

January       February       March       April       May       June     July     August     September       October       November       December
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

 

 

December 2018

 

Full Winter Gear

Time to pull out the full Winter Gear. A thick base layer with thick insulation and shell layers necessary.

 

Nov 20, 2018: FULL Winter Gear Required

Nov 1, 2018: Winter Elements must be included in Kit

Oct 9, 2018: Fall Elements must be included in Kit

 

Yosemite-Hoover-Desolation
&
John Muir Trail Hikers:

Time to Order Next Year's Permits

 

 

All Snow Information

December
Road News & Status Links

 

El Nino Report

 

 

Review
December of 2017
against
December of 2016

Against this November of 2018....

 

 

 

 

More
High Sierra
Backpacker Information

Guide Trailhead

Guide Index

High Sierra Magazine

Blog-Forums

 

 

From the Past we learn about our Future.

27 November

 

CLOUDY-WARM
Weak Storm Arriving Today



LAST MONTH


HIGH SIERRA
WINTER STORM
WATCH to WARNING

Wednesday Night through
Thursday Night

 

Forecast Calendar

 

SNOW INFORMATION
The Snow Pack at a Glance

NOAA-NOHRSC
The High Sierra
11-27-18

All Snow Pack Resources

All Snow-Precipitation

All Reporting Stations

 

 

HAZARD STATUS
Two Issues

1> Winter Storm & Temp Potential.

2> Full Winter Gear

The progression of the 2017 season's gear status change points began on September 15th, when Summer Gear was switched out for our Fall setup, three weeks earlier than this year.

This was followed up on November 3, 2017, when we brought out the
Winter Gear Selection
, which was two days later than this year, when Winter Gear was required on November 1.

Since that date different levels of Full Winter Gear have been Required, depending on the specific conditions.
We have reached the seasonal interface when temperatures can plunge to below zero.

Cold Safety Chart

GEAR

Careful assesment of weather and gear is now critical to trip planning.

Check the MODIS View for today by adjusting the time slider, as well as the snow pack graphical interfaces, above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28 November

 

CLOUDY-WARM
Stronger Storm Arriving Today


Moderate-Heavy
Overnight Precipitation

HIGH SIERRA
WINTER STORM
WATCH to WARNING

Wednesday Night through
Thursday Night

 

Forecast Calendar

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

29 November

 

WINTER STORM

 

Moderate to Heavy Rain through Thursday Morning
Diminishing During Day

Winter Storm Warning
In effect overnight

 

Forecast Calendar

 

 

 

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--FALL--
6th
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
November 22, 2018

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings, now that we've finally had another, "Winter," storm, the second of this season.

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

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

 

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 15" +11.0
7618 feet
(5.5 H2O) +3.4
34 & 29 -/-

Echo Peak 29" +18"
7652 feet
(9.4 H2O) +6.8
36 & 29 -/=

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 33" +21
8388 feet
(5.6" H2O) +3.6
34 & 27 -/=

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 38" +22
8660 feet
(8.5" H2O) +5.4
32 & 25 -/-

Leavitt Lake 45" +31
9602 feet, East Flank
(8.6" H20) +4.9
31 & 23 -/-

Marine Base (ERROR)
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
40 & 32 ?/?

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek 22.09" +17.53
9250 feet, West Flank
(3.77" H20) +2.79
30 & 20 -/-

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 31.54" +18.88"
8163 feet, West Flank
(2.37") H20 +.32
33 & 27 -/-

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
32.45" +19.41"
(2.28") H20 + (1.05)
30 & 23 -/-

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
36.77" +25.3
8.71" H20 (+.12)
27 & 23 -/+

Mammoth Mountain Ski

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(7.18) H2O) +2.29
temps bad

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
32.52" Snow +18.1"
(7.88" H2O) +5.16
29 & 22 -/-

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(21.0 H2O) +.6 suspect
28 & 20 -/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
23.20" Snow +17.6"
27 & 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
34.47"
(1.28" H2O +1.07")
25 & 15 -/-
(station reporting again!)

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet
(.75 H2O) -.21 (suspect)
-- & -- x/x

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

2nd Storm of Season
Until last night we've had one significant storm of any power at all come across the Sierra since the 21st, and before that, our little rain of the Second of October.

 

30 November

 

CLOUDY & CLEAR

Light Precip Late

 

High Sierra
WINTER ADVISORY
SATURDAY
7am to 10pm

 

Forecast Calendar

 

COLD WARNING
Low Temps across Crest with clearing skies between cloudy fronts!

 

FYI
Recent Sierra Highway Closure History

Tioga Road Closure History

High Sierra
Road Information

 

 

Seven Day
Freezing Temperature Probability

 

 

THE SNOWPACK

GRAPHICS

Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status

 

GRAPHICS

NOAA-NOHRSC
The High Sierra
11-27-18

 

REPORTING
STATIONS

NEW
Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

Also See
All High Sierra Snowpack Data.

 

SEE THE LATEST
HIGH SIERRA NEWS

 

 

 

 

More
High Sierra
Backpacker Information

Guide Trailhead

Guide Index

High Sierra Magazine

Blog-Forums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WARM
Days

COLD
Nights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

1

 

CLOUDY & CLEAR

Light Precip Early AM,
Clear & Cloudy Later

HAZARDS

HIGH SIERRA
ROAD REPORTS

NOVEMBER 21:
ALL SEASONAL
TRANS-SIERRA
HIGHWAYS

CLOSED for SEASON

Tioga Pass Closed,
Caltrans

Sonora Pass Closed,
Caltrans


Ebbetts Pass Closed, Caltrans

All Road Reports

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--FALL--
7th
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
November 29, 2018

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the dusting the second front of this system brought.

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

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

 

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" +6.0
7618 feet
(6.0 H2O) +.4
29 & 23 -/-

Echo Peak 34 " +5"
7652 feet
(11.20 H2O) +1.8
29 & 20 -/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 34" +1
8388 feet
(6.4" H2O) +.8
31 & 16 -/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 41" +3
8660 feet
(9.5" H2O) +1.0
28 & 19 -/-

Leavitt Lake 53 " +8
9602 feet, East Flank
(10.3" H20) +1.7
24 & 17 -/-

Marine Base (ERROR)
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
X & X ?/?

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek 18.09" -4
9250 feet, West Flank
(4.2" H20) +0.43
24 & 4 -/-

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 36.92" +5.38"
8163 feet, West Flank
(2.38") H20 +.01
28 & 10 -/-

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
35.24" +2.79"
(2.33") H20 + (.05)
34 & -1 +/-

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
36.02" -0.75
8.71" H20 (+.12)
24 & 4 -/-

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(7.35) H2O) -0.17
temps bad

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
XX.XX" Snow +?.?"
(8.96" H2O) +1.08
31 & 13 +/-

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(21.1 H2O) +.1 suspect
34 & 13 +/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
19.90" Snow −3.3"
27 & 6 =/-

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
36.39" +1.92"
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
23 & 9 -/-
(station reporting again!)

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet
(.62 H2O) -.13 (suspect)
-- & -- x/x

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

2nd Storm of Season
Last night we had what I'd call the second front of this particular pattern of Lows penetrating the High off and on the West Coast of our continent.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
2

CLOUDY & CLEAR

Clear Skies at Night Bring/Bringing Cold Temps

 

Weather Page

 

 

WARM
Days

COLD
Nights

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

RECORD-SETTING DANGEROUS HEAT

3

CLOUDY & CLEAR

Clear Skies at Night Bring/Bringing Cold Temps

 

COLD
Day
& Windy

 

NOAA-NOHRSC
The High Sierra
12-3-18

 

REALTIME
High Sierra Crestline
Reporting Stations

(Compare with the 1st)

Carson Pass
8388 feet

Ebbetts Pass
8660 feet

Leavitt Lake
9602 feet

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank

Deadman Creek
9250 feet

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet

Gem Pass
10750 feet

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet


South Lake Cabin
9580 feet

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet

Bishop Pass
11972 feet

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet

 

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow Depths & Temps
2017 Calendar

 

4

CLOUDY-COOL
&
WINDY

Evening-Overnight
Precip

NORTH
High Sierra
WINTER ADVISORY
TUESDAY NIGHT

Forecast Calendar

 

COOL
Day
& Windy

COLD
Nights

 

 

Seven Day
Freezing Temperature Probability

 

 

The
High Sierra
Weather Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

5

Weak Lows Spinning
Just off West Coast

Light Scattered Precip

Warmed Up With Precip

 

2018
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 5.

N Sierra: 80%

Cen. Sierra:113%

S Sierra: 141%

Ca State: 108%

Next Measurement:
Dec 13

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Last Year, 12/29

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--FALL--
8th
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
December 1, 2018

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the dusting the third system this season has seen.

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

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

 

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 20" -1.0
7618 feet
(6.9 H2O) +.3
32 & 27 +/+

Echo Peak 32 " -2"
7652 feet
(12.30 H2O) +1.1
35 & 26 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 33" -1
8388 feet
(7.2" H2O) +.8
34 & 33 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 38" -3
8660 feet
(10.2" H2O) +0.7
32 & 19 +/=

Leavitt Lake 43 " -10
9602 feet, East Flank
(11.2" H20) +0.9
31 & 19 +/+

Marine Base (ERROR)
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
20 & X ?/?

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek 16.02" -2.07
9250 feet, West Flank
(4.8" H20) +0.6
31 & 19 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 36.92"
-0.69"
8163 feet, West Flank
(2.39") H20 +.01
36 & 27 +/+

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
30.00" -5.24"
(3.00") H20 + (.67)
35 & 21 +/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
34.83" −1.19
8.83" H20 (+.12)
31 & 16 +/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(7.77) H2O) +0.42
temps bad

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
37.91" Snow +?.?"
(9.00" H2O) +0.04
31 & 18 =/+

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(21.1 H2O) +.1 suspect
29 & 22 -/+

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
17.10" Snow −2.8"
32 & 21 +/+

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
31.29" - 5.1"
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
29 & 15 +/+
(station reporting again!)

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet
(.60 H2O) -.02 (suspect)
-- & -- x/x

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

3nd "Storm" of Season
Last night we had what I'd call the third, weak, "storm," front of this season, with the Low, and now two Lows, sitting fairly stationary off the coast of SF & Central CA, against the High glued to the West Coast of our continent.

 

6

Clearing, Cool, w/
moderate winds

Clarity will bring Cold Night

COLD WARNING
Tonight

Low off SoCal Coast

 

Observe
Storm, Temp and Weather Patterns to properly time upcoming Winter Trips.

Informative
"Normal" Vs. Now

Forcasts & Reality
vs.
Averages

 

Winds? Weather?

NorCal Graphics

SoCal & SW US

 

Precipitation

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
RAIN-SNOW FORECASTS

 

 

Let's look at the
Big Picture

The Pacific Ocean

 

 

 

 

US Weather Map

 

All Maps

 

All
High Sierra Weather
And the factors creating it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Clear, crisp, calm & gentle.

SOCAL FIRES
THE BOTTOM LINE


See MORE 2017 Trail News

"New" Patterns
Vast, Persistant Blocking Ridge since 3rd, forecast through 13th, & looks Longer & Stronger than that...

THE RIDGE

7

Perl Harbor

North Sierra Clear,
S Sierra Clearing

Clarity will bring Cold Night

COLD WARNING
Tonight

Low Moved East...

 

THE SNOWPACK
GRAPHICS

Today's High Sierra Snowpack Status

GRAPHICS

NOAA-NOHRSC
The High Sierra
12-7-18

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--FALL--
9th
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
December 5 , 2018

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the dusting the third system this season has seen, which has now moved South.

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

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

 

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 18" -2.0
7618 feet
(6.8 H2O) -.1
32 & 26 =/-

Echo Peak 29" -3"
7652 feet
(12.50 H2O) +.2
39 & 22 +/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 29" -4
8388 feet
(7.2" H2O) =.0
37 & 19 +/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 34" -4
8660 feet
(10.3" H2O) +0.1
40 & 24 +/+

Leavitt Lake 40 " -3
9602 feet, East Flank
(11.2" H20) =0.0
38 & 16 +/-

Marine Base (ERROR)
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
21 & X ?/?

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek 15.08" -0.94
9250 feet, West Flank
(4.8" H20) =0.0
35 & 8 +/-

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 32.83"
-4.09"
8163 feet, West Flank
(2.71") H20 +0.32
43 & 12 +/-

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
27.14" -2.86"
(3.08") H20 + (.08)
41 & 5 +/-

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
31.94" −2.89
8.83" H20 (=.00)
34 & 12 +/-

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(7.89) H2O) +0.12
temps bad

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
39.02" Snow +1.11"
(9.04" H2O) +0.04
40 & 16 +/-

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow BAD")
(21.2 H2O) +.1 suspect
45 & 16 +/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
16.70" Snow −0.4"
37 & 9 +/-

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
36.35" +5.06"
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
33 & 14 +/-
(station reporting again!)

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet
(.80 H2O) +.20 (suspect)
-- & -- x/x

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

3nd "Storm" of Season
Yesterday the two Lows formed one, and moved South along the coast to the bottom of the state, where they turned West over the South Sierra, and are clearing-up today.

8

Clear & Nice

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORTING
STATIONS

NEW
Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

Also See
All High Sierra Snowpack Data.

 

SEE THE LATEST
HIGH SIERRA NEWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEATHER
Resources

The
High Sierra
Weather Page

 

HAZARDS

 

All
Satellite
Views

 

All
Radar
Views

 

All
Snow-Precip Forecasts

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
POINT
FORECASTS

 

SEE THE LATEST
HIGH SIERRA NEWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More
High Sierra
Backpacker Information

Guide Trailhead

Guide Index

High Sierra Magazine

HIGH SIERRA TRAILS FORUMS

HIGH SIERRA TOPICS FORUMS

GEAR FORUMS

GEAR LIST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Vast, Persistant Blocking Ridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

9

Overcast

Band of Light Precip Forecast
Monday AM

 

Precipitation
Forecasts

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
RAIN-SNOW
FORECASTS

 

 

The
High Sierra
Weather Page

 

 

 

 

10

Clearing-Cloudy
after
WEAK
Overnight Showers

 

 

Let's look at the
Big Picture
MAP
The Pacific Ocean

All Maps

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

11

Clear

COOL
Day

COLD
Nights

 

REALTIME
High Sierra Crestline
Reporting Stations

(Compare with the 7th)

Echo Peak
7652 feet

Carson Pass
8388 feet

Ebbetts Pass
8660 feet

Leavitt Lake
9602 feet

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank

Deadman Creek
9250 feet

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet

Gem Pass
10750 feet

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet

Bishop Pass
11972 feet

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet

 

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow Depths & Temps
2017 Calendar

12

Clear
Increasing Clouds of
Strong Front to Far North

Warmer

 

NOTE
Moderate, Persistant Ridging

Knocking Systems/Fronts
North & South
of
Sierra

 

 

Informative
"Normal" Vs. Now

Forcasts & Reality
vs.
Averages

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
POINT
FORECASTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

13

Clear & Nice

N and Central Sierra
Wind Advisory Friday

Calendar Forecast

2018
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 13.

N Sierra: 64%

Cen. Sierra:92%

S Sierra: 102%

Ca State: 87%

Last Measurement: Dec 5

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--FALL--
10th
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
December 7 , 2018

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the dusting the last six days of fairly clear weather.

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

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

 

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" -2.0
7618 feet
(6.9 H2O) +.1
45 & 33 +/+

Echo Peak 28" -1"
7652 feet
(12.20 H2O) -.2
53 & 34 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 26" -3
8388 feet
(7.2" H2O) =.0
44 & 25 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 31" -3
8660 feet
(10.2" H2O) -0.1
52 & 31 +/+

Leavitt Lake 37 " -3
9602 feet, East Flank
(11.1" H20) -0.1
45 & 33 +/+

Marine Base (ERROR)
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
X & X ?/? no report

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek 13.65" -1.43
9250 feet, West Flank
(4.91" H20) +0.11
45 & 18 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 30.85"
-1.98"
8163 feet, West Flank
(2.75") H20 +0.04
47 & 17 +/+

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
24.20" -2.94"
(3.08") H20 = (.00)
51 & 12 +/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
24.92" −7.02
9.26" H20 (+.43)
46 & 21 +/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(7.92) H2O) +0.03
temps bad

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
35.28" Snow -3.74"
(9.08" H2O) +0.04
47 & 27 +/+

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow removed ")
(21.2 H2O) =.10 suspect
53 & 24 +/+

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
12.40" Snow −4.3"
44 & 20 +/+

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
26.52" -9.83"
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
47 & 26 +/+
(station reporting again!)

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet
(.75 H2O) -05 (suspect)
-- & -- x/x

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

Fairly Clear Week
Some tattered remnants of Cold Fronts passing from West to NE has been about it...

 

2017
Clear-ish, calm & gentle, Warm days, cool nights.

Vast, Persistant Blocking Ridge

14

Mostly
HIGH CLOUDY

Weak Showers Overnight

 

 

THE SNOWPACK

GRAPHICS

Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status

 

GRAPHICS

NOAA-NOHRSC
The High Sierra
12-14-18

 

 

REPORTING
STATIONS

NEW
Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

Also See
All High Sierra Snowpack Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


2017

Clear-ish, calm & gentle, Warm days, cool nights.

Vast, Persistant Blocking Ridge

15

Vast Low
in
Gulf Alaska

HAZARDS

 

 

 

Let's look at the
Big Picture
MAP
The Pacific Ocean

All Maps

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

16

Moderate Nor-Cal
precip

Looks Like it's Rained/Raining
on Much of the
Sierra Crest

 

Last Snow & Temp Report
Dec 13

 

HAZARDS

Winter
Storm & Advisory
Warnings
thru
Monday

Calendar North

Calendar South

Text

 

 

REALTIME
High Sierra Crestline
Reporting Stations

(Compare with the 13th)

Echo Peak
7652 feet

Carson Pass
8388 feet

Ebbetts Pass
8660 feet

Leavitt Lake
9602 feet

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank

Deadman Creek
9250 feet

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet

Gem Pass
10750 feet

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet

Bishop Pass
11972 feet

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet

 

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

17

CLOUDY to CLEAR

The
High Sierra
Weather Page

Last Night/Yesterday Rained Across Sierra Crest

And Snowed!

 

COLD WARNING
Clearing to Potentially Very Low Temps Tonight

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--FALL--
11th
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
December 13 , 2018

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the dusting of the last day of an stronger moderate tropical downpour than expected.

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

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

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 17" +1.0
7618 feet
(7.1 H2O) +.2
39 & 30 -/-

Echo Peak 26" -2"
7652 feet
(12.60 H2O) +.4
30 & 30 -/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 28" +2
8388 feet
(7.7" H2O) +.5
37 & 28 -/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 42" +11
8660 feet
(11.9" H2O) +1.0
52 & 31 +/+

Leavitt Lake 37 " -3
9602 feet, East Flank
(13.40" H20) +1.1
31 & 28 -/-

Marine Base (ERROR)
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
5:52 pm 58
5:52 am 40

AM-PM report

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek 6.63" -7.02
9250 feet, West Flank
(5.13" H20) +0.22
33 & 25 -/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 27.21"
-3.64"
8163 feet, West Flank
(2.75") H20 =0.00
44 & 30 -/+

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
26.97" + 2.77"
(3.35") H20 +(.27)
35 & 27 -/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
23.55" −1.37
9.28" H20 (+.02)
34 & 24 -/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(8.89) H2O) +0.97
temps bad

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
34.96" Snow -0.32"
(9.84" H2O) +0.76
31 & 24 -/-

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow removed ")
(21.2 H2O) =.00 suspect
34 & 26 -/+

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
12.00" Snow +0.5"
31 & 23 -/+

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
28.63" +2.11"
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
28 & 26 +/-
(station reporting again!)

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet
(.6 H2O) -.15 (suspect)
-- & -- x/x

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

Two Days Precip in Past
Fairly Clear Week Ahead

Clearing today, rain fell across the crest yesterday, until it finally got cold enough to snow...

18

CLEAR & WARM

 

 

 

THE SNOWPACK

GRAPHICS

Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status

 

GRAPHICS

NOAA-NOHRSC
The High Sierra
12-17-18

 

REPORTING
STATIONS

NEW
Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

Also See
All High Sierra Snowpack Data

 

19

CLEAR & WARM

Low off Seattle drawing Front Line from Hawaii

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow Depths & Temps
2017 Calendar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

20

HIGH CLOUDY

Low off Seattle drawing Front Line from Hawaii

High along West Coast deflecting Front around NorCal & Sierra

 

 

Let's look at the
Big Picture
MAP
The Pacific Ocean

All Maps

 

 

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
POINT
FORECASTS

 

 

2018
Current Snowpack
:
Percent of Average for
December 20.

N Sierra: 68%

Cen. Sierra:81%

S Sierra: 89%

Ca State: 80%

Last: Dec 13


Dec 29, 2017

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

21

Winter Solistice
Cold & Dark Southernmost
Sun Position
NASA VIDEO

ANNUAL CYCLE OF LIGHT

 

Early AM Light Precip

Warm

 

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
1st
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
December 17 , 2018

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the dusting of the last day, after a moderate cold front crossed the Sierra.

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

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

 

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

 

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" -1.0
7618 feet
(7.4 H2O) +.3
49 & 33 +/+

Echo Peak 28" +2"
7652 feet
(13.30 H2O) +.7
51 & 32 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 27" -1
8388 feet
(7.9" H2O) +.2
47 & 31 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 33" +9
8660 feet
(11.5" H2O) -.4
47 & 29 -/-

Leavitt Lake 46 " +9
9602 feet, East Flank
(12.3" H20) -1.2
33 & 15 -/-

Marine Base (ERROR)
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
70 & 29

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek 4.98" -1.65
9250 feet, West Flank
(5.35" H20) +0.22
44 & 27 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 34.15"
+6.94"
8163 feet, West Flank
(3.49") H20 +0.74
45 & 28 +/-

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
24.52" -2.45"
(3.54") H20 +(.21)
44 & 27 +/=

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
26.71" +3.16
9.37" H20 (+.09)
45 & 24 +/=

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(8.77) H2O) -0.12
temps bad

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
33.56" Snow −1.4"
(9.84" H2O) +0.76
48 & 26 +/+

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow removed ")
(21.3 H2O) +.10 suspect
36 & 12 -/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
11.50" Snow −0.5"
44 & 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
26.18" -2.45"
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
46 & 21 -/-
(station reporting again!)

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet
(.6 H2O) -.15 (suspect)
-- & -- x/x

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

Light Precip this morn,
Clearing today.

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scroll-Over
All Reporting Stations
for
Current Temps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

COLD WARNING

Low Temps across Crest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

23

Overcast Thickening

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP


24

PRECIP
Steady Moderate Precip

Early AM through Evening

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

Persistant Blocking Ridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25

CHRISTMAS

Cleared Nicely, Early AM!

 

COLD
Night

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--WINTER--
2nd
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
December 21 , 2018

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the persistant precip yesterday, after a moderate cold front crossed the Sierra.

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

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

 

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

 

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 19" +3.0
7618 feet
(8.30 H2O) +.9
36 & 22 -/-

Echo Peak 35" +7"
7652 feet
(15.10 H2O) +1.8
35 & 20 -/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 32" +6
8388 feet
(8.70" H2O) +.8
34 & 19 -/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 38" +5
8660 feet
(12.60" H2O) +1.1
32 & 17 -/-

Leavitt Lake 51" +5
9602 feet, East Flank
(13.50" H20) +1.2
31 & 15 -/-

Marine Base (ERROR)
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
32 & 17
-/-

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek 10.66" +5.68
9250 feet, West Flank
(5.84" H20) +0.49
30 & 4 -/-

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 32.80"
- 1.35"
8163 feet, West Flank
(3.50") H20 +0.75
39 & 9 -/-

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
27.07" + 2.55"
(3.83") H20 +(.29)
35 & 3 -/-

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
28.01" +1.3
9.37" H20 (+.09)
30 & 4 -/-

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(9.34) H2O) +0.57
temps bad

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
36.34" Snow +2.78"
(10.92" H2O) +1.08
31 & 12 -/-

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow removed ")
(21.3 H2O) +.10 suspect
36 & 12 -/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
15.20" Snow +3.7"
32 & 7 -/-

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
30.94" +4.76"
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
32 & 8 -/-
(station reporting again!)

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet
(.66 H2O) +0.06 (suspect)
-- & -- x/x

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

Moderate Precip all day yesterday,
Clearing this morning.

 

26

Nice
More Spring than Winter

 

 

Informative
"Normal" Vs. Now

Forcasts & Reality
vs.
Averages

 

Precipitation

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts
RAIN-SNOW FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
POINT
FORECASTS

 

Let's look at the
Big Picture
MAP
The Pacific Ocean

All Maps

 

27

Clear & Windy
potential for a

Very
COLD
Night

WINDY ACROSS CREST

Vast Mound of High Pressure situated a couple of hundred miles off the Western Coast of US:

Current N Pac Map

All Maps

Everything goes around that Vast High... and it's bringing strong, cold winds out of the North...

 

WARM
Days

COLD
Nights

 

 

2018
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 27, 2018.

N Sierra: 73%

Cen. Sierra:82%

S Sierra: 82%

Ca State: 78%

Last: Dec 20

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

Compare Snow depths at Left
With Selected Stations during
2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

HOT
Days

COLD
Nights

28

Clear & Less Windy
still the potential for a

Very
COLD
Night

Single-Digits and Below-Zero Temps Across Crest
Last Night & Likely again
Tonight

WINDY ACROSS CREST

Vast Mound of High Pressure situated a couple of hundred miles off the Western Coast of US:

Current N Pac Map

All Maps

Everything goes around that Vast High... and it's bringing strong, cold winds out of the North...

 

2018

Persistant Blocking Ridge

 

 

 

WARM
Days

COLD
Nights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow Depths & Temps
2017 Calendar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29

Clear & Sweet
potential for a

Very
COLD
Night

 

HAZARDS

 

THE SNOWPACK

GRAPHICS

Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status

 

GRAPHICS

NOAA-NOHRSC
The High Sierra
12-25-18

 

 

 

REPORTING
STATIONS

NEW
Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

Also See
All High Sierra Snowpack Data.

 

 

 

2017
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 28.

N Sierra: 24%

Cen. Sierra: 33%

S Sierra: 23%

Ca State: 27%

 

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

30

Clear, Sweet
potential for a

Very
COLD
Night

 

 

2018

Persistant Blocking Ridge

 

WARM
Days

COLD
Nights

 

 

Backpackers

Time again to begin observing Winter transitioning into Spring

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT YEAR

 

TOP

 

31

Clear-Crisp
&
WINDY
potential for a

Very
COLD
Night

 

2018

Persistant Blocking Ridge

 

BRISK
Day

COLD
Nights

 

2018
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 31, 2018.

N Sierra: 67%

Cen. Sierra:75%

S Sierra: 75%

Ca State: 71%

Last: Dec 27

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

2018
HIGH SIERRA
--Winter--
3rd
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
December 25, 2018

Next Report:
January 4, 2019

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the last five days of clear and cooling weather behind the big High of the Coast of USA.

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

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

 

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

 

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 19" =0.0
7618 feet
(8.10 H2O) -.2
38 & 16 +/-

Echo Peak 32" -3"
7652 feet
(15.30 H2O) +0.2
40 & 15 +/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

Carson Pass 30" -2
8388 feet
(8.70" H2O) =0.0
36 & 12 +/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

Ebbetts Pass 36" -2
8660 feet
(12.70" H2O) +0.1
39 & 11 +/-

Leavitt Lake 48" -3
9602 feet, East Flank
(13.40" H20) -0.1
35 & 6 +/-

Marine Base (ERROR)
6748 feet East Flank
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-WIND
76 & 19
+/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

Deadman Creek 8.16" -2.5
9250 feet, West Flank
(5.84" H20) +0.49
35 & 5 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake 34.22"
- 1.42"
8163 feet, West Flank
(3.91") H20 +0.41
45 & 11 +/+

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet, West Flank
26.76" - 0.31"
(3.95") H20 +0.12
40 & 4 +/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet
27.29" -0.72
9.37" H20 (+.09)
36 & 4 +/=

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

Gem Pass
10750 feet
SNO " Depth Suspect
(9.32) H2O) -0.52
temps bad

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet
39.74" Snow +3.4"
(10.92" H2O) +1.08
42 & 6 +/-

South Lake Cabin
9580 feet, East Flank
(Snow removed ")
(21.3 H2O) =0.0 suspect
38 & 8 +/-

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet, East Flank
13.40" Snow −1.8"
34 & 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
29.56" −1.38"
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
30 & 4 -/-
(station reporting again!)

Crabtree Meadow
10,700 feet
(.-- H2O) +0.06 (suspect)
-- & -- x/x

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

Moderate Precip all day yesterday,
Clearing this morning.

 

 

 

1
2019

Clear, Crisp
Winds Diminished

potential for a

Very
COLD
Night

Very Cold Last Night

 

2018

Persistant Blocking Ridge

Extended Clear Weather

 

 

HAZARDS

 

 

Past Rainfall

Rain Forecasts & Models

High Sierra Weather Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow Depths & Temps
2017 Calendar

 

2
2019

 

 

THINK AHEAD

CCC
Backcountry Trail Crew
Applications due

EARLY FEB 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT YEAR

 

TOP

3
2019

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT YEAR

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT YEAR

 

TOP

 

4
2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5
2019

 

 

HAZARDS

 

THE SNOWPACK

GRAPHICS

Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status

 

GRAPHICS

NOAA-NOHRSC
The High Sierra
12-31-18

 

REPORTING
STATIONS

NEW
Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

Also See
All High Sierra Snowpack Data.

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT YEAR

 

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT YEAR

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT YEAR

 

TOP

2018

December

Typical Year:

This 2017 High Sierra backpacking and backpacker's Calendar notes important hiking dates as our seasons progress to compare current and recent historical weather to determine the best gear for the conditions. We also track the expected against the actual dates our resupply locations and the trans Sierra highways that feed them open and close. We also include permit reservation timing reminder information for those who seek hard to get

 

 

NOTES:
December Tenth, 2015:
Intense tropical flows have so far been diverted around us by the same persistent ridge, the high pressure zone that's been gradually building, strengthening, and persisting over Winter in the Northwest and West Pac over the last fifteen years. Yup, that one. I am betting that each time this ridge breaks down from here on out we will have a good chance of North and Central California getting seriously hosed. The ridge persisting will continue the deluge that everyone from Portland Oregon, and points North, has been getting pounded with, so far this year.

The distribution of El Nino tropical moisture has been controlled by the balance of factors I discussed in the December Backpacker Alert.

Season's Greetings: Alex and all the members of Tahoe to Whitney hope you had a killer backpacking year, that you’ve seen amazing things and met incredible folks on the long trails between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney. Woo Hooo!

Now's the Time! November & December is the time to reserve permits in Desolation Wilderness or Yosemite National Park for next June. Half of each ‘s Wilderness Permits for these heavily used areas are available six months before the start date of the backpacking trip.

 

 

2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar          2016 Calendar          2017 Calendar

 

The
Bookends

of
High Sierra Experience

JULY
2015

RECORD MINIMAL SNOW PACK

 

JULY
2017

MASSIVE, RECORD MAX SNOW PACK

 

 

The Winter Backpacker

Very short days and long cold nights makes Winter hiking trips very different than Summer.

I’m hopeful the trails will be buried under yards of snow by December 2016…

If so, our goals, our speed, and our expectations have fully shifted into Winter Mode.

Our changing inner perspective ideally matches external environmental changes.

May your perspective always complement your environment, and visa-versa.

 

2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar

2016 Calendar

2017 Calendar

December

I am hoping my frostbite/heart is recovered enough to resume my annual Christmas-New Year Snow Camping Triangle at the end of 2016.

From Meyers to Round Lake to Showers Lake to Round Top Lake and back to Meyers is my traditional December 25 Christmas present to myself.

The terrain, the joy of navigation and route finding the snow-covered beauty of the High Sierra during Winter is a special experience well worth the efforts and hazards.

Happy Trails!

2018 Calendar

2018 Calendar Index

 

Tahoe to Whitney

Top of Page

Top of Page

2018
High Sierra
Backpacking Calendar

January         February         March         April         May         June

July         August         September         October         November         December

 

2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar

2016 Calendar          2017 Calendar

 

Trailhead
 
Contact
Alex Wierbinski

top of page

Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney

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

top of page

© 2018 Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Crown Jewel of the Pacific Crest Trail