0400 wx. at 6350′ in Carnelian Bay: 32.4°F / 32.0°F dew point / 98% RH / overcast with light snow / 4″ 24hr. snow total

0515 wx. at 8400′ Mt. Rose backcountry TH: 26°F / overcast with mod. snow / gusty SW winds / 7″ new snow total

0645 wx. at 9500′ in Mt. Rose backcountry: 22.2°F / 22.1°F dew point / RH 100% / SW wind @ 5-10mph, gusting 15-20mph / overcast with light/mod. snow / 12-14″ new snow

Backcountry obs.:

This morning was a full-on storm morning. Moderate snow and gusty, erratic winds raked the Mt. Rose backcountry at dawn. New snow and wind had completely covered the mangled snow surface of a weekend’s worth of powder hungry traffic.

Throughout open areas near 8400′, 7″ of fairly dense new snow rested atop imperceptible suncrusts. New snow amounts increased with elevation throughout sheltered NE aspects up to treeline at 9500′, where up to 14″ of new snow had fallen overnight. Stiffened wind pillows and freshly sculpted cornices adorned treeline ridges.

Wind effected snow did not react to stomps and ski cuts. The new snow appeared fairly well-bonded to old snow surfaces as no cracking, whumphing, or other obvious signs of instability grabbed this skier’s attention on the up or down.

Skiing just after dawn awakened every synapse with glorious, soft, light surface powder providing quick sliding atop slightly denser early storm snow. It was yet another morning of the season’s best turns: smooth, soft, and springy, adorned with flashes of white smoke. If only the mountain had 3000′ more vertical.

Weather and forecast thoughts:

While seemingly slow, blustery, and warm at the start, today’s (3/17) St. Paddy’s Day storm ended up bringing another round of excellent snow to the Tahoe backcountry. Falling temps behind the early morning frontal passage and an unstable airmass have kept moderate-heavy snow showers firing throughout the day, adding considerable accumulations to backcountry zones. Total accumulations by this evening could easily reach 1-2’+ above 7000′ with the highest amounts along the crest.

Tonight snow showers will taper and skies will clear soon after sunset with temps. falling into the single digits to low 10s above 7000′ by daybreak.

Tomorrow (3/18) a transient ridge of high pressure will begin building into the area warming temps and clearing skies. High temps above 7000′ will reach the upper 20s to mid 30s tomorrow under bluebird, sunny skies.

Calm, clear, and milder weather is in store for Wednesday (3/19) with temps climbing into the middle-upper 30s, before another, more modest storm system enters the picture for Weds PM into Thurs AM.

Models currently show this system brushing by Tahoe and favoring areas north and west of the lake with a few quick inches of surface refresh by Thurs AM (3/20). Stray snow showers may linger and briefly build in the mountains throughout the day Thurs with highs climbing into the low to mid 30s across the backcountry.

Winter’s March comeback will begin to fade late this week as springtime weather nudges its way into the Sierra. Sunshine, warmer temps, and a generally benign pattern return Fri though the weekend (3/21-23). Temps on Fri will climb to near 40 and warm a few degrees with each successive day this weekend as a ridge of high pressure builds in. Nights should cool below freezing each day, initiating a new corn cycle that will transform the recent fresh powder into creamy corn.

Looking into next week, the ridge of high pressure continues building through at least mid-week, warming temps further. By the end of the week, ensembles suggest a return to unsettled winter weather with a long wave trough of low pressure moving in from the Gulf of Alaska accompanied by cooler temps and chances for more snowfall.