0400 temp. at 6350′ in Carnelian Bay: 30.1 deg.

New 24 hr. snow: 5.5″

0515 temp. at 8650′ Tamarack TH: 28 deg.

New 24 hr. snow: 6-8″

Backcountry obs:

Yesterday’s storm surprised yet again with higher snow totals around the northern side of the lake, while points south picked up a slushy inch. Warm, moist air moved into with the system around mid-morning bringing snow levels up to around 8000′ by afternoon, even in spots that initially picked up more snow than expected. By noon, moderate rain soaked backcountry zones around Mt. Tallac, Emerald Bay, and the West Shore. This morning, rain crust reports abounded in much of the backcountry below 8000′.

The one zone that survived the warmth: Mt. Rose. Temps during the storm never crested freezing, resulting in another 6-8″ of thick cement, resetting the snow surface and providing fun, thick hero pow.

The combination of high water content snow and strong winds during the storm has created abundant wind board along ridgelines and in exposed areas. While not escaping the wind entirely, W-N-E aspects skied well at dawn on wind affected, thick buff, turning to lightly textured thick pow in the trees. Add a little extra pop to each turn for best results.

Weather and forecast thoughts:

Calm weather and warm temps will dominate the rest of the workweek both around town and in the backcountry. Expect morning fog and inversions in valleys and depressions with lows around freezing, or just below.

Daytime highs will hit the low 50s around the lake Weds – Fri, while backcountry areas reach the upper 30s above 8000′, to 40s below 8000′. Summits and ridgetops may not drop below freezing at night, but lower dew points and RH may preserve whatever cold snow that didn’t get soaked through evaporative cooling.

A stormy, active pattern is in the cards for the weekend, then continuing into Christmas week. The first storm takes aim on Tahoe for Sat and Sun (12/21 – 12/22). This one looks to have a warm, atmospheric river component, possibly driving snow levels all the way up to 9000′ and soaking the snowpack for all areas. Luckily the past few storms have laid down feet of thick cement that should handle a short-lived period of rain and warmth.

After a break in the action late Sun – Mon, models are in fair agreement that another storm will roll in for Christmas Eve / Christmas Day, this time bringing the gift of colder air and lower snow levels. Hopefully the fluffy fun returns just in time for the holiday.