Snowplant, below Round Lake, Meiss Roadless Country Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Your Backpacking Guide to the High Sierras Sprouting Paper Plant
Sonora Pass Sunset.
Sonora Pass "red at night, sailor's delight," Sunset.

 

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Sonora Pass
Backpacker Weather Information

Highway 108 Corridor
Weather Forecasts, Reports, Road Conditions and
Information

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All
Sierra

Weather
Northern
Sierra
Weather
Central
Sierra

Weather
Southern Sierra
Weather
Ebbetts Pass
Region Weather
Emigrant
Wilderness
Yosemite Weather
Carson Iceberg Wilderness
Map
Sonora Pass
Map

Sonora Pass
Region Weather Resources

Location
This weather page is concerned with providing weather information to hikers and backpackers on and near the lines of the Pacific Crest and Tahoe to Yosemite Trails through Sonora Pass and Saint Marys Pass, both of which are located on and near the Sierra Crest along Highway 108.

Saint Marys Pass overlooks Sonora Pass...

Range
The range of this coverage extends North into the Southern Carson Iceberg Wilderness and the South of Highway 108 across the high elevation portions of the Emigrant Wilderness into the North Yosemite Backcountry.

Besides the weather information we provide links to maps, miles, elevations, resupply, and permit information for the PCT and TYT across, and to the North and South of Sonora Pass.

 
   
   

Arrrg...Pages under Construction...

 

Ouick References
Hiking Map
North
Hiking Map
South
Carson Iceberg Wilderness
Region
MAP
Sonora Pass Corridor
Region
MAP

 

Local Information
Hiking Map
South
Trail Guide
Detailed
Sonora Pass over Leavitt Peak Massif
Hiking Map
Sonora Pass
Trail Guide Index

 

In the Sky
Weather Page
North
Weather Page
South
Ebbetts Pass
Region Weather
Emigrant-North Yosemite
Region Weather

 

All High Sierra Reporting Stations

Smoke Resources

 

East Flank of Leavitt Massif
Leavit Peak in December with Snow Plume

This Image has a Story
A Fine Snow Plume blows off the Southeast Flank of Leavitt Massif. We're looking West after crossing over and along that part of the Sierra Crestline up there, Southbound from Sonora Pass during late Winter.
Read an outline of trip hiking to and over Levitt Peak, then back to Highway 395 via the snow-covered route of Highway 108.

Climbing Leavitt Peak during Wintertime

Sonora Pass
Trailheads

 

Sonora Pass
and
Saint Marys Pass
TYT-PCT
Weather Page
INDEX
Forecasts
&
Road Conditions
Real-Time Stations
&
Snow Sensors
Radar
&
Satellite

Snow Cover, Probability,
and
Predictions

Trail Guide
Information
 

7 Day Rain Forecasts
&
Current Satellite View

 

Regional Forecast
&
Road Conditions

Forecasts, Road Conditions,
and
Web Cams

Sierra Nevada Point Forecast
Sonora Pass

Sonora Pass Weather Forecast.

Road Conditions

CalTrans

Highway 108

 

By Region
Road Conditions Map

 

Cal Trans
Road Conditions
Search

 

Cal Trans
Road Conditions
Phone Line

1-800.427.7623

Eyes
on
Sonora Pass

Web Cams

Dodge Ridge Base,
6,600 feet

Dodge Ridge Top,
8000 feet

Cow Creek,
5800 feet, Hwy 108

 

East Flank

Topaz Lake
Hwy 395

 

California Webcams
Add All Webcam Layers to Smoke Sensor Coverage

 

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NWS:
7 day Regional Forecast & Conditions. West Sierra. East Sierra.

Seven Days
of
Graphical Forecasts
Rain Footprint, Cloud Cover, Temps, Winds, Hazards

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

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

South Sierra
Graphical Forecast Tool
ALL
HIGH SIERRA
WEATHER RESOURCES

 

Seven Days of Rain Predictions
&
Current Satellite View

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

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

Visible
High Sierra satellite views for backpackers, hiker, hunters, and fishermen.

All Precip Predictions & Models

All Satellites

List of NWS Satellites              List of NOAA Satelittes

Real Time
High Sierra
Radar
&
Satellite Views

Northern Sierra Nevada Radar and Satellite
Weather Imagery

Northern Sierra Nevada Radar Imagery

Link to Northern Sierra Nevada Weather Radar out of Reno.

North Pacific and Sierra Nevada Satellite Imagery

Link to Weather Sattelite Imagery.

National Radar Map All Satellites

Real Time
High Sierra Backpacker Weather Information

Reporting Stations and Snow Sensors
near
Sonora Pass

Local Map
Sonora Pass Region Backpacking Map

 

All High Sierra Reporting Stations

Smoke Resources

 

Linked
Ground Reporting Station
MAPS

Sonora Pass Area Station List

The first link below bring us to an expansive map of MesoWest Northern California Real-Time reporting stations. Click that image.

Then scroll over the crosses for real-time temp, precip, humidity, and wind info. Click the crosses for full station reports.

MesoWest
Northern California

North California Mesowest real time weather reporting stations.

California High Sierra Ground Reporting Stations

California Department of Water Resources real time weather reporting stations.

 

Snotel

All Federal
Snotel Stations
in California

Sonora Pass

Leavitt Meadow

 

NWS Winter
Weather Forecasts

National
Snow and Ice Data Center

 

 

All Precip Predictions & Models

 

 

Locate Stations near
Sonoa Pass on this 30 min Topo

Sonora Pass Region Backpacking Map

comments

Calfornia State Stations

Focus: Sonora Pass region and Sierra flanks East and West.

All Sonora Pass reporting stations laid out on a hiking map. Ca. reporting stations located by NAD 27.

#1> Sonora Pass Bridge (state of ca sensor)

Location: Sonora Pass, Highway 108. Topo Map.

Site Information and Reports from Sonora Pass

Daily Report from Sonora Pass Bridge

Latitude: 38.318000°N

Longitude: 119.601000°W

Elevation: 8750 feet

 

#2> Deadman Creek (state of ca sensor)

Location: South of/at Kennedy Meadows.
See Topo Map.

Site Information and Reports from Deadman Creek

Daily Report from Deadman Creek

Latitude: 38.331900°N

Longitude: 119.653100°W

Elevation: 9250 feet

 

#3> Leavitt Lake (state of ca sensor)

Location: East Flank of Sierra South of Hwy 108.
Topo Map.

Site Information and Reports from Leavitt Lake

Daily Report from Leavitt Lake

Latitude: 38.282000°N

Longitude: 119.621000°W

Elevation: 9600 feet

 

#4> Summit Meadow (state of ca sensor)

Location: Northeast of Sonora Pass, East of Lost Cannon Peak, North of Marine Base.
Topo Map.

Site Information and Reports from Summit Meadow

Daily Report from Blue Lakes Summit Meadow

Latitude: 38.397500°N

Longitude: 119.535600°W

Elevation: 9313 feet

 

#5> Lower Relief Valley (state of ca sensor)

Location: South of Relief Reservior.
topo map.

Site Information and Reports from Lower Relief Valley

Daily Report from Lower Relief Valley

Latitude: 38.243000°N

Longitude: 119.758000°W

Elevation: 8100 feet

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.

 

Snow on the Ground and in the Future

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.

Hit the Trails
or
Make Your Own

Trail Guide Information

comments

This Weather Page, like the trail guide it is part of covers the High Sierra Trails across Highway 108. The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail along the West Sierra flank reaches Highway 108 through Saint Marys Pass, the Pacific Crest Trail through Sonora Pass from the Eastern flank of the Sierra Crestline.

The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail comes up the Western Flank through the Clarks Fork of the Stanislaus River. The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail reaches Highway 108 a mile West of Sonora Pass near the Sierra Crestline. This trail guide splits into two branches departing the South Lake Tahoe Basin near Carson Pass.
The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route has tracked along the Western Flank of the Sierra Nevada Mountains while the Pacific Crest Trail has hiked South along the mostly Eastern facing crestline trail. Here at Sonora Pass they come close to intersecting before continuing on their very different routes South.


The Pacific Crest Trail hikes South down into Sonora Pass between climbs over Sonora Peak to the North and Leavitt Peak to the South of Sonora Pass. Hiking South on the PCT over Leavitt Peak we start out along the Eastern edge of Emigrant Wilderness, but soon turn East to divert around the heart of the Emigrant Wilderness.
The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail climbs up to Sonora Pass through the Clarks Fork only to drop back down the Western Flank, down to Kennedy Meadows Pack Station along Highway 108. From Kennedy Meadows the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail climbs across the high heart of the Emigrant Wilderness into the Northwestern corner of the Yosemite Backcountry, where it reconnects with the PCT for the remaineder of their hike across the North Yosemite Backcountry. The TYT and PCT rejoin below Bond and Dorothy Lake Passes just inside the Yosemite National Park Boundary, hiking substantially the same trail route South to Tuolumne Meadows.

Permits

National Forest Boundary runs North and South along the Sierra Crest across Sonora Pass. From Sonora Pass the East-West boundary dividing the Carson Iceberg Wilderness to our North from the Emigrant Wilderness to our South roughly follows the route of Highway 108.
The Southern boundary of the Emigrant Wilderness defines the Northwestern boundary of Yosemite National Park.

National Forests at Sonora Pass and Highway 108
West Slope: Stanislaus National Forest.
East Slope: Toiyabe National Forest.

Wilderness

Northwest of Sonora Pass: Carson Iceberg Wilderness, Stanislaus National Forest.
Northeast of Sonora Pass: Carson Iceberg Wilderness, Toiyabe National Forest.

South of Sonora Pass: Emigrant Wilderness, Stanislaus National Forest.
Southeast of Sonora Pass: Hoover Wilderness, Stanislaus National Forest.

Trail Guide Section Index

Sonora Pass Region Hiking Map                                        Sonora Pass Region Weather Map

Maps

Pacific Crest Trail Index

Tahoe to Yosemite Index

Miles & Elevations

Pacific Crest Trail
Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows

Tahoe to Yosemite
Kennedy Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows

All Maps
link to
Trail Guide Pages
Click the Red Dots

Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows

Kennedy Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows

Sonora Pass reporting stations laid out on a hiking map.

North: Highway 4 Weather                  Sonora Pass Trail Map                   South: Emigrant Wilderness Yosemite

Sonora Pass Sunset on clouds

Sonora Pass Sunset. Sonora Pass Sunset Two.

Driving East up Highway 108 to Sonora Pass

May 31 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Weather considerations should guide your gear selection.

Weather Preparations for Backcountry Travel

All Seasons

All Seasons
1st:

Tahoe to Whitney
Complete
High Sierra Weather Resources

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

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

Check the National Weather Service Maps

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

Consult the National Weather Service Home Page

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


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.

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If you have comments about weather conditions at Sonora Pass and the Highway 108 Corridor, this is the place to post up:
Sonora Pass
Backpacking Weather Forum

North: Highway 4 Weather              Sonora Pass Trail Map                  South: Emigrant Wilderness & Yosemite

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

Snug tent after Snow Storm
© Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Crown Jewel of the Pacific Crest Trail