0400 wx. at 6350′ in Carnelian Bay: 20.1° / 18.0° dew point / 91% RH / mostly clear skies / calm winds / 13″ total storm accumulation 3/31-4/2

0515 wx. at 8650′ Mt. Rose backcountry TH: 11° / mostly clear skies / calm winds

0615 wx. at 9200′ in Mt. Rose backcountry: 17.5° / 12.1° dew point /82.9% RH / clear skies / calm winds / 18-24″ settled new snow above 3/29 crust

Backcountry obs.:

This week’s storms brought more than a refresh to the Tahoe backcountry. Since Mon (3/31) heaps of fresh, cold powder have fallen from the heavens, transforming the previously worn and scratchy snowscape into the pristine winter playground of cold smoke, fluffy soft turns, and face-fulls of powder that has been so hard to come by this season. Snow began on 3/30 and fell in earnest on 3/31 and 4/1, then tapered to light showers and cold temps for 4/2. In total, the backcountry received between 3-4’+ with highest amounts along the Sierra Crest.

Even though the storm was cold, high winds and density changes in the new snow created wind and storm slabs Mon and Tues. A tour Mon (3/31) in the Mt. Rose backcountry revealed a touchy snowpack with multiple skier triggered avalanches noted in wind-loaded zones and sheltered N facing terrain. Click here for a first hand observation.

A dawn tour today (4/3) revealed a largely settled and right-side up snowpack. N and NE aspects host cold, light powder adorning the top 8″, with slightly higher density new snow beneath. Prestorm crusts were between 18-24″ deep, imperceptible while skinning or skiing. Very little wind effect exists on the surface. E-S-NW aspects now hold a fragile, breakable suncrust around 2-3″ thick that’s surprisingly friendly to ski, but far inferior to the cold snow on due N and NE aspects where skiing is pure bliss.

High quality spring powder should hold on at the highest elevations and in the shadiest aspects through today, while solar aspects will quickly begin transitioning to hot pow and suncrust by day’s end.

Weather and forecast thoughts:

Today marks the pendulum shift from winter cold and snow to warm temps and sunshine for the foreseeable future. Enjoy the powder while you can.

Cold temps left in the wake of this week’s storms will moderate a bit today under partly sunny skies. Temps in lower elevation backcountry zones near 7000′ may flirt with freezing this afternoon, while higher areas warm into the upper 20s to low 30s. A few clouds and lingering snow showers will develop this afternoon in response to light afternoon convection across the mountains, but any accumulations will be trivial.

Tonight will be cold, clear, and dry with lows in the 10s and low 20s across the backcountry. Mild inversions may develop by dawn with areas of freezing fog and surface hoar in valleys and depressions.

Tomorrow (4/4), temps will begin warming under mostly sunny skies as a ridge of high pressure builds in to our north. Expect highs reaching the mid 30s across the backcountry, and snow beginning its transition from cold and fluffy to creamy corn, but it’ll take a few days of sun and melt freeze conditions to get there. Beware of the interregnum.

This weekend (4/5-4/6) temps will climb a few degrees higher to near normal values with highs in the low to mid 40s during the day with 20s at night under mostly clear skies. Good corn cultivation weather.

Early next week, models suggest a shortwave trough may brush by the Sierra bringing a pause to the warmup, increased winds and cloudiness, and possibly a shower or two, mainly from Tahoe north. Temps will remain near normal with highs in the 40s and lows in the upper 20s to low 30s.

As the week progresses, temps look to continue their upward march under sunny spring skies with no storms on the horizon.

Time to grab the sunscreen, Hawaiian shirts, and sweat bands. Spring’s coming.