0530 temp. at 6350′ in Carnelian Bay: 30.2 deg. w/76% RH

Backcountry obs.:

And just like that, it’s game on for parts of the Tahoe backcountry. Last week’s storms, while disappointing around town, dropped between 1-2′ near the crest and in the Mt. Rose area. Along the W side of the lake, usable snow begins above 7000′ while the Mt. Rose area hosts snow above 8000′. Different from years passed, the snow that fell has a significant density, and arrived in a largely right-side up manner, with the densest snow at the bottom, getting lighter and fluffier towards the top. Despite being generally less than 3′ deep, the snowpack already buries many rocks, snags and smaller shrubs, spackling them in a supportable, springy, dense pack that doesn’t punch through. SW winds during the storm also distributed coverage well, filling in the nooks and crannies, especially in sheltered zones.

Be aware that the new snowpack does have multiple layers and density changes. Near and below treeline a ~2″ deep ribbon of loose, wet facets lies beneath a stout crust near the ground. I didn’t note any instability, but a sleeping bear may lurk beneath in the rights spots. Caution advised.

Top to bottom — taking good care towards the bottom — the skiing was fantastic this weekend with playful, bouncy powder, surprisingly few rock and log encounters and long, smooth turns. It’ll only get better from here.

Forecast thoughts:

After a bluebird break on Sun. (11/24), another potent storm system is approaching the Sierra beginning Mon. (11/25) and winding down Tues night (11/26). Like the previous systems, snow levels will generally float between 6000-7000′ during the bulk of precip, lowering as cooler air arrives towards the storm’s end. Accumulations at lake level will likely be meager. However, above 7000′ another 1-3′ could fall, especially for areas on the S and W sides of the basin. Points further S into Alpine and Mono Counties could receive even higher snow totals. It’s time for the Eastern Sierra to get their dose.

During the upcoming event, Tahoe will be sandwiched between two plumes of moisture: one dropping in from the N, and another arriving from the W, but aimed more directly at the Central Sierra. This more southerly–and more potent– plume will remain largely S of Tahoe, keeping the heaviest snowfall from Carson Pass southward. I wouldn’t be surprised if areas on the N side of Tahoe end up receiving forgettable accumulations that amount to less of a dump and more of a surface refresh.

Looking ahead to the coming week, Weds looks to clear out and remain seasonably cool as a transient ridge of high pressure moves in. A NW flow takes over for Thanksgiving into the end of the week providing the chance for some showers, but no significant storms beckon.