Tahoe Backcountry Snow

0600 temp. at 6350′ in Carnelian Bay: 32.1 deg. & 99% RH

Backcountry obs.:

Not too much is happening in the backcountry outside of daily melt/freeze conditions. Yesterday morning temps in the Tamarack bc fell well below freezing (25 deg. at 5:30am at 8650′ TH). Conditions were pretty firm and poor around dawn. The area is heavily tracked out with deep ruts and tracks, frozen in place by the nightly refreeze. Shady aspects are crusty and wind affected, while solar aspects had a solid melt/freeze crust that had matured into refrozen corn snow on the most sun exposed slopes.

With daily highs getting into the 40s under strong sunshine, I suspect the skiing is quite good from 0900-1200, depending on the aspect. Conditions don’t look to change until snowfall returns to the area this weekend, resetting the snowpack back into a wintry condition.

Forecast and weather thoughts:

Warm, sunny days and cool nights have dominated Tahoe weather this week and will continue until Fri when winter returns, likely hanging out through the rest of the month. Highs for the rest of the week will hit the low 50s in town, with overnight lows near freezing, especially in depressions as inversions return until the upper airflow begins mixing out the lower atmosphere Thurs. and Fri. ahead of the pattern change.

Fri. the ridge of high pressure responsible for the spring reprieve breaks down and is replaced by a long wave trough along the west coast. This will set the stage for cooler and more unsettled weather starting Fri – Sat. as a system within the larger pattern could bring up to 12″ of new snow along the crest and 2-6″ of snow to Tahoe communities by Sat. PM.

The snowy flow continues through Sun. and into Mon., but rather than a significant dump, expect snow showers around the Basin with higher amounts in the mountains and along the crest.

We may get a break Tues.-Thurs. with cool temps holding on until the end of next week when a potentially stronger, yet fast moving storm may deliver another round of snow to the Sierra.

Don’t hang up the skis yet.

0600 temp. at 6350′ in Carnelian Bay: 35.2 deg. & 74% RH

Backcountry obs.:

It was a beautiful weekend in Tahoe as the first consistent string of sunny and warm days moved in for the first time in recent memory. Despite having mainly lackluster storms all season, the Sierra hasn’t had a stretch of clear, warm days like we often receive, even in Jan. and Feb. Reports from across the Tahoe backcountry over the weekend showed transitional snow that, despite the premature expectations for corn snow, had not yet fully transitioned and in many cases was still cold and wintry. Proper corn snow needs many days of consistent melt/freeze conditions and looking back at the season, those conditions really didn’t arrive until this warm spell.

Yesterday on Mt. Tallac, veins and panels of corn existed on SE and S aspects above treeline around 1030, but did not warm particularly fast due to some passing high clouds and very light E breezes. Temps at dawn were in the upper 20s at lake level keeping the forest snowpack firm and good for travel. Higher on the mountain, more wind effected snow prevailed with only SE facing sides of gullies and bowls hosting transitional buttery snow and “baby corn”. Higher up and on shady aspects, cold, wind effected snow with nary a touch of warmth filled bowls and chutes. Despite the transitional nature of the snow, the skiing on open, solar aspects was fast, fun, and edgeable – a great intro to spring.

Weather and forecast thoughts:

Warm, spring-like weather will only amplify today and tomorrow and continue through Weds/Thurs. Spring officially arrives tomorrow with the equinox occurring at 8:06pm. Expect highs well into the 50s around the lake with sunny skies, light winds and occasional high clouds drifting through. Lows should promote surface refreezes of the snowpack, aiding in melt/freeze corn cycle.

The blocking ridge responsible for this week’s warm, dry weather will begin weakening on Weds., eventually getting replaced by a trough of low pressure dropping in from the NW over the weekend. The result will be a return to cool and unsettled weather with snow returning to areas above 7000′ by Sat. and Sun. Enjoy the warm weather now, because winter’s coming back for a while.

Next week looks like it could be even stormier with a few models showing decent storms bringing a return of appreciable snowfall to Tahoe. This pattern continues through the end of the month, hopefully resettling and bulking up the snowpack for the spring.

0430 temp. at 6350’ in Carnelian Bay: 30.7 deg. & 75% RH

0515 temp. at 8650’ Tamarack TH: 17 deg.

Backcountry obs.:

This morning I expected to find blasted wind board all over the backcountry, but was pleasantly surprised to find soft, wind-buffed snow in shady, sheltered areas and stiff pillows, wind board, and sun crusts elsewhere. Sastrugi near and above treeline was present, yet manageable. Popular N and E facing bowls are mostly scoured down to bed surfaces and heavily textured by the wind. However, it still is possible to sniff out areas of soft, wind deposited snow on the lee side of ridgelines and features in open bowls.

Considering the expectations for combat skiing, conditions aren’t that bad and actually still pretty fun.

Weather and forecast thoughts:

Cold, windy weather will begin to wane today as winds slacken and temps start their climb. Today will be partly cloudy with highs getting into the low 40s around the lake and 30s in the mountains.

This weekend and into early next week, spring arrives in earnest with warm temps, sunny skies, and light winds. Expect highs in the 40s and 50s for both Sat. and Sun with lows below freezing in a dry air mass. The trend continues into Mon.-Weds. Cool nights with low dewpoints should aid in refreezing snow surfaces overnight, promoting more widespread corn snow across the backcountry.

South faces have already received plenty of sun and warmth over the past week, so corn should already be present, especially at lower elevations. The weekend warm up and sunny skies will begin “corning” up the snow at higher elevations on E-S-W aspects. Timing is key with corn, so if you head out, be sure to get an early start to ensure a firm, frozen climb and smooth, buttery descent.

Models continue to show storminess returning to the area toward the end of next week, through the end of the month. Details are scant, but it could be something to look forward to. For now, there’s plenty of corn and sunshine to harvest in the coming days. Get it!