Tree, Poison Flat, Carson Iceberg Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Your Backpacking Guide to the High Sierras Yellow Flower
Departing Lake Tahoe Basin during Winter.
Departing Lake Tahoe Basin through Carson Gap during during Winter.

 

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All
Sierra

Weather
Northern
Sierra
Weather
Central
Sierra

Weather
Southern Sierra
Weather
Lake Tahoe Basin
Region Weather
Lake Tahoe Basin
Weather Map
Carson Pass Region Weather Gear



South Lake Tahoe Backpacker
Weather Resources

 

Location
This weather page below is concerned with, & focused on providing weather information to hikers and backpackers on or near the Pacific Crest and Tahoe to Yosemite Trail routes through Desolation Wilderness and Meiss Roadless Area along the Sierra Crestline above the Western Shore and around the Southwestern Corner of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

 

Latest
2019

Winter 2019 Status: Tropical Transport & Storms of February 13

 

2018
What Brings the Transition from Fall to Winter of 2018?
Probabilities for the Upcoming Winter

 

ALL
HIGH SIERRA WEATHER PAGE

Hazards Map Mountain Safety

 

All High Sierra Reporting Stations

 

The Range of Light
Range of the Page Below
Picked Resources
Thus this weather page below covers the Western and Southwestern portions of the Lake Tahoe Basin. These are my favorite parts of the Basin.

Besides Tahoe Basin weather information we also find links to information further South down the trails, including the maps, miles, elevations, resupply, permit, and even more information, for those hiking the PCT and TYT South around the Tahoe Basin continuing down the Sierra Crest from here, and along both these trail routes to our South.

This Page, and the Tahoe Basin Mark the Northern Limit of the
Tahoe to Whitney High Sierra Trail Guide.

 
   
 

 

 

 

 

 

Ouick References
Southwest Tahoe Basin
Region Weather
MAP
Carson Pass
Region Weather
Carson Pass
Region Weather
MAP

Selected
High Sierra Reporting Stations

Smoke Resources


Meeks Bay Map               Echo Summit Map               South Upper Truckee Trailhead

 

 

South Lake Tahoe Weather Page
Index

Forecasts
&
Road Conditions
Real-Time
Reporting
Stations
&
Snow Sensors

Tahoe Basin
Reporting
Stations
on a
Topo Hiking Map

Radar
&
Satellite

Snow Cover,
Weather Probability,
&
Predictions
Trail Guide
Information

7 Day Precip Forecasts
&
Current Satellite View


Forecasts, Road Conditions,
and
Web Cams

Lake Tahoe Region Forecast

Lake Tahoe region Weather Forecast Link.

Road Conditions

CalTrans

Tahoe Basin Region Highways

Highway 80

Highway 89

Highway 50

Highway 88

 

Cal Trans Road Conditions Search

 

Cal Trans Road Conditions Phone Line

1-800.427.7623

Eyes
on
Tahoe Basin

Web Cams

Lake Tahoe
web cams

California Webcams
Add All Webcam Layers to Smoke Sensor Coverage

 

The Tahoe Basin is a unique part of California's Early History

Industrial History of Tahoe Nat Forest

Twain

Exploratory History of the Toiyabe

 

 

More
All High Sierra Forecasts

All Road Conditions

Nov 2017 Road News
(See current High Sierra News page for current road news.)



NWS 7 Day Graphical Forecast

South Lake Tahoe Region
In-Depth Weather Forecast


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

 

 

Specific
WIND & RAIN & SNOW
FORECASTS

Seven Days
Graphical Interface
Seven Day Wind Forecast
Graphical Interface
Seven Day Rain Forecast
Including
High-Low Temps, Probability of Rain,
with expected Smoke, Rain, and Snow

Animation
Seven Day Rain Forecast

 

Rain Charts
Seven Day Rain Forecast

All Precipation Forecast Models

 

ALL SNOW
INFORMATION

 

Use these tools to investigate all aspects of the 7 Day High Sierra Forecasts.

 

South Sierra Graphical Forecast Tool

ALL HIGH SIERRA WEATHER RESOURCES

Sierra Nevada Mountain Backpacker
Rain, Precipitation, and Radar
Weather Imagery

 

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



Northern Sierra Nevada
Radar Imagery

Link to Northern Sierra Nevada Weather Radar out of Reno.

 

All Precipitation Information National Radar Map

Northern Sierra Nevada
Local and Regional Satellite Views
Weather Imagery

 


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


Water Vapor Loop
North Pacific and Sierra Nevada Satellite Imagery
Link to Weather Sattelite Imagery.
All Visible Satellites All Vapor Satellites
All Satellites

 

Reporting Stations
and
Snow Sensors

 
Weather Station
MAPS
Southwest Tahoe Basin
Region Weather
MAP
Carson Pass
Region Weather
MAP

 

All High Sierra Reporting Stations
by Watershed & Highway Corridor

Smoke Resources


Linked
MAPS
KEY
Southwest Lake Tahoe
Stations

The first link below bring you to an expansive map of Northern California Real-Time reporting stations.

 

MESOWEST
NORTH SIERRA REPORTING
STATIONS
REAL TIME TEMPS & PRECIP & SNOW DEPTH North California Mesowest real time weather reporting stations.

More
North & South California MesoWest
High Sierra Backpacker Weather Page

 

The link below, to California State reporting station brings you to a lousy map interface, but it works...

 

CALIFORNIA STATE
HIGH SIERRA WEATHER REPORTING STATIONS

California Department of Water Resources real time weather reporting stations.

 

All Federal
Snotel Stations
in California

 

Classic Local Backpacking

Desolation Wilderness Backpacking Map

Meiss Country Roadless Area Backpacking Map

 

South Lake Tahoe
Weather Reporting Stations
Laid out on a hiking map.

 

All Precip Predictions & Models

Along the TYT-PCT
South Lake Tahoe reporting stations laid out on a hiking map. Ca. reporting stations located by NAD 27.

 

#1> RUBICON #2

Location: Near Desolation Wilderness between Stony Ridge Lake and Highway 89 on the East side of Rubicon Peak. Topo Map.

Site Information and Reports from RUBICON 2  

Daily Report from RUBICON #2

Latitude: 38 deg 59’

Longitude: -120 deg 7’

Elevation: 7689 feet

 

 

#2> Fallen Leaf

Location: Just North of Camp Richardson on Highway 89. Topo Map.

Site Information and Reports from Fallen Leaf

Daily Report from Fallen Leaf

Latitude: 38 deg 56'

Longitude: -120 deg 3'

Elevation: 6236 feet

 

 

#3> ECHO PEAK

Location: North of Upper Echo Lake, Desolation Wilderness. Topo Map.

Site Information and Reports from ECHO PEAK

Daily Report from ECHO PEAK

Latitude: 38 deg 50'

Longitude: -120 deg 4'

Elevation: 7670 feet

 

 

Mesowest
Temperature & Wind infomation

Echo Summit Highway 50

Meyers: Highway 50 & 89

Real Time Ground Reporting Stations

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

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

This information establishes our gear selection range.

 

Fall-Winter-Spring
Weather Resources

 

snow cover

snow probability

weather & temp predictions

Snow cover on the Sierra Nevada graphical interface.

Sierra Nevada snow storm and snowfall probability forecasts.

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

 

ALL SNOW
Forecasts & Data
High Sierra Backpacker Weather Page

Trail Guide Information

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

Therefore the trail guide begins in Desolation Wilderness and passes South through the Meiss Country Roadless Area before exiting the Lake Tahoe Basin just a bit North of Carson Pass.

National Forests around Lake Tahoe between Highway 89, 50, and 88

All land that drains into Lake Tahoe is defined as part of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. For the purposes of this trail guide the pertinent zones within the LTBMU are Desolation Wilderness and Meiss Country Roadless Area.

Desolation Wilderness is the busiest wilderness in the country. Permits may be difficult to obtain during the high Summer backpacking season. Meiss Country requires no permits, though these areas are a stone's throw from each other.

Trail Guide Section Index

Maps

Desolation Wilderness
Map Index

 

Meiss Country
Map Index

Miles & Elevations

Desolation Wilderness

 

Meiss Country

Trail Guide Maps
(Click Red Dots)

Desolation Wilderness

 

Meiss Country

 


South Lake Tahoe
Reporting Stations
on a
Hiking Map

High Sierra Nevada
Hiker's Weather Resources

Trail Guide Construction Note: As of June 2012 I am reworking these long-static draft High Sierra Weather Pages. Have you any good weather information you want to see up here? Email me.

North: NORTHERN SIERRA WEATHER                                       South: CARSON PASS

Ready for the Range of Weather
in the
Range of Light?
Basic Facts
Basic High Sierra
WeatherResources
for the
Backpacker

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

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

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

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

Long Distance Backpackers who were on the High Sierra Crest in early August of 2009 (and July of 2015) experienced just such a series of Summer Snow Storms.

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

(The 2015 storms had their way)

Weather considerations should guide your gear selection.

Weather Preparations for Backcountry Travel

All Seasons
1st:

Tahoe to Whitney
Complete
High Sierra Weather Resources

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

(on the TW Weather page above)

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

Check the National Weather Service Maps

(on the TW Weather page above)

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

Consult the National Weather Service Home Page

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

All these resources, and more, are found on the Tahoe to Whitney Complete Highe Sierra Weather resources page.

 

Backpacker Forums

Have a great Sierra Nevada route or trip to relate?

Post it on
TahoetoWhitney.Org

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

Become a Member

If you have comments about weather conditions in the Lake Tahoe Basin, this is the place to post up:
Desolation Wilderness Weather

North: NORTHERN SIERRA WEATHER                                       South: CARSON PASS

Trailhead
Contact
Alex Wierbinski

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Frosted Backpack

Backpacking Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney

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

Bear at Silver King Creek, Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
© Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Crown Jewel of the Pacific Crest Trail