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High Sierra Weather Forecasts, Warnings, and Information for Skiers Backpackers and Hikers
High Sierra Hiker & Skier Weather Forcasts, Warnings, Reports, Conditions, Maps, Radar and Satellite Resources
HIGH SIERRA WEATHER INDEX for BACKPACKERS and SKIERS
Weather Maps-Climate Prediction Center
Introduction
High Sierra Backpackers, Hikers, and Skiers need Accurate and Compreshensive Weather information and resources to plan and safely gear themselves for successful backcountry travel. Here they are.
Find the latest High Sierra forecasts, warnings, find current temps and conditions from real-time reporting stations along the Sierra Nevada Crest Line, check weather maps, regional and local radar, Satellite feeds, and even High Sierra road conditions below.
This is designed so you can effectively anticipate approaching storm and weather conditions, gage the system's strength, its duration and direction, determine the conditions, and measure the potential interval between storms, if relevant. All weather links open in a new tab.
Recent Scouting Report:
Carson-Iceberg Loop. Late October 2011.
High Sierra Winter Storm Warnings
A blank page appears if there are no current warnings. Warnings are listed in order of nearness to the local NWS office. Scroll down list for all nearby warnings.
7-Day National Weather Service High Sierra Forecasts
Sierra Nevada Forecasts
LAKE TAHOE REGION
Above: North Sierra: Greater Lake Tahoe Forecast
NORTH-CENTRAL SIERRA
Above: North/Central Sierra weather forecast: Western Slope North Sierra South to Yosemite
EAST CENTRAL SIERRA
Above: Eastern-Central Sierra Weather forecast: Mono County
CENTRAL SIERRA
Above: Central-South Sierra Weather Forecast: Yosemite to Kings Canyon Forecast
SOUTH SIERRA
Above: South Sierra Weather Forecast: Tulare County Mountains Forecast
Select a region of the Sierra to view its forecast. Forecast area can be shifted to a different area or centered on a point within the region's forecast area map.
Regional Forecasts :Central-Western United United States. Click location on the map for that location's Forecast
Cool NWS Graphical Interface Forecast
Weather, Wind, Dew, Temperature & much more
Above: North & Central Sierra, Northern California
Southern Sierra-Southern California
Note that this cool graphical interface covers a wide geographical area and can be adjusted out to 6 days into the future...The Map changes to represent the catagory when you scroll over the list. For reporting stations from specific locations see the reporting stations below:
Real-Time Reporting Stations
SNOTEL
Actual High Sierra Snow-Rain-Temp Information
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Current Conditions from an extensive web of High Sierra reporting stations
Above: Federal list: All California SNOTEL Sites
The Fed list is better organized and offers easier access to information than Ca's system. Click the station data you want to view, then the 7-day report.
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
Above: California State: CDEC Station Locator Map.
California's system is comprehensive but plagued with data collection, presentation, and navigation issues. Navigate the map to your desired location in the High Sierra.
MESOWEST Reporting Stations
Above: Federal: Mesowest Station Map: Northern California.
Federal: Mesowest Station Map: Southern California.
The Mesowest system is excellent. Mesowest is well-organized and stocked with stations across the High Sierra and foothills. Scroll your cursor over the MesoWest station locations on the map for instant basic read-outs, click the station location for a full report.
METAR Stations in California
METAR Data Northern California
METAR Data Southern California
A weather reporting system for pilots, but it may have a reporting station you are interested in.
The Big Snow Picture in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Snowpack Status
Above: Federal; Regional Snow Analyses: Western Coastal.
This feature gives you a excellent view of the overall extent of the High Sierra Nevada snowpack and the various rates of different types of degradation.
Winter Weather Forecasts
NWS: Snowfall Probability Forecasts
This feature gives you snowfall probabilities three days into the future.
Weather Observation Resources:
The Really Big Picture
High Sierra Real-Time Satellites
NWS: National Weather Service
Above: Whole Pacific Ocean Animation: 28 Km Water Vapor Loop.
Regional List of Western US Satellites: NWS US Satellites. Especially check the 28 Km animations.
GOES: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, part of NOAA
Above: Big Picture Animation: GOES Western US. Water Vapor Loop.
Bigger Picture Animation: GOES Northeast Pacific. Water Vapor Loop.
Big Picture List: GOES Pacific Satellites. Pacific Ocean and Western U.S.
Traveling? GOES covers the entire US and the entirety of the Pacific and Alantic Oceans. Check the GOES index page for all GOES satellites.
High Sierra Real-Time Radar Resources
Above: Big Picture California: Pacific Southwest Radar.
Click any part of the map above to view the local radar for that area.
NORTH CENTRAL SIERRA NEVADA RADAR
Above: North-Central Sierra Nevada Local Radar: Reno
SOUTH CENTRAL SIERRA NEVADA RADAR
Above: Central-South Sierra Local Radar: San Joaquin
Long Term Analysis Tools
General Weather Maps
Above: NWS Big Picture Weather Maps. These weather maps project US conditions six days into the future in daily intervals.
Fronts and Precipitation Maps
Above: NWS Big Picture Current 12 hour fronts-precipitation Map. These detailed weather maps project conditions two days into the future by 12 hour intervals.
All of the daily interval Weather Maps out to six days and the 12 hour interval Weather Maps out to two days are available from the Weather Maps page.
Information about these Weather Maps. Explanation of symbols used on the Weather Maps.
Winter Weather Probability Maps
NWS: Snowfall Probability Forecast Maps
This feature gives you snowfall probabilities three days into the future. Compare the probability charts for different depths of snow for the most accurate picture of upcoming conditions.
Climate Prediction Center
Above: The Climate Prediction Center at NOAA offers probabilities of Temperature and Precipation for the United States from six days to three months into the future, along with the US weather hazard and drought assesments.
Weather Information-Instruction
National Weather Service online school for Weather: Index
The NWS instructional information is excellent. Except for the lightening safety info, which is next to worthless. No, I don't "stay indoors." What buffoons. High Sierra Backpackers can be 5 days' hike from any structure...
High Sierra Road Conditions
CALTRANS
Caltrans Mountain Road Conditions by Region
Caltrans Mountain Road Conditions: Lake Tahoe Basin
Caltrans Road Conditions: Enter Hwy Number.
Call 1-800.427.7623 for current Caltrans highway conditions.
National Forests and Parks in the High Sierra Nevada
Check the Permits page on the trail guide for links to the National Forests in the Northern Sierra. Each National Forest posts-up a "Conditions" page with some small bit of trails information, and a bunch more info on their backcountry road conditions.
From the National Forest and Park pages you can determine who theWilderness Ranger is, and try to hit them up for current backcountry information.
Yosemite Weather Forecasts, Reports, and Real Time Reporting Stations
Everyone always asks, so here it is: Yosemite"s Current Conditions page.
Other Yosemite Weather Resources
NWS Forecast: Yosemite Valley
Mesowest Station: Yosemite Valley
NWS Forecast: Tuolumne Meadows
Mesowest Station: Tuolumne Meadows
Who's Open?
No one. It's mid-Winter. But these Links to Backpacker Resupply Locations between Tahoe and Whitney can help you plan next Summer's Tahoe to Whitney backpacking trip:
Tahoe to Whitney Resupply Resources
Safety Information
Lapse Rat: 2.7 degrees per 1000 ft. average wet.This is the wet Lapse Rate, which applies to the majority of air masses blown off of the Pacific Ocean or evaporating out of The Valley. These air masses contain lots of moisture, which retards chilling as they gain elevation to cross the Sierra.
Yet I warn in my Winter Gear Videos of the dangers of Eastern Continential Cold Air Masses blowing into the Sierra during the Winter. These air masses are composed of very dry frigid air moving Westward off of the Great Plains.
An ECCAM brings frigid dry air to high elevation from the East. In this case I believe the extreme cold this weather feature brings to the Sierra is partially a product of the "dry" Lapse Rate, which is 5.4 degrees per 1000 feet, as well as this air having been deeply chilled and dried out over the Great Plains before moving Westward.
We are entering the time of year when understanding the possibility of a Continential Cold Air Mass coming our way becomes an important consideration packing your Winter kit.
Heat Safety Information
Heat Index: 95 degrees is the line.
The heat safety information linked to above is not a big issue at this time of year, but it is good information you should be aware of.
Welcome to the Fall High Sierra Reports and Analysis
Below you will find the link to my analysis of the progress of the weather into the ultra-dry Winter of 2011-2012. This bone-dry Winter followed the Winter of 2010-2011, which was one of the wettest and snowiest for decades. The snowpack never totally cleared from the Sierra Crest during the Summer of 2011...
Check out the Winter through Spring Thaw of 2012 article.
December 18, 2011. I'm looking forward to hearing about the Late Fall Conditions you encounter during your High Sierra backpacking trips. I'm still recovering from injury incurred last Winter. I need your reports to get my hiking fix.
YOUR REPORTS
You can post up your notes and experiences with High Sierra Fall Trail Conditions on this page through the comments link below, or you can post up your own page about your trip in the Seasonal Reports Forum. Post up your experiences with these dustings of snow. Everyone freaks out...
Oct 5: notes about various parts of the trail, see the Trails Forum.
My Status
I'm still recovering from an injury, so you guys can add to our knowledge through the comments link below, or as your own article in this, the Seasnonal Conditions Reports Forum.
But I've plans to sneak in my first trip this Fall before the snows fall. Stay Tuned!.
Done: Late October Fall Scouting Trip: Carson-Iceberg Loop.
Gear
January 6, 2012
At this point in Winter it is quite clear that Winter weight gear must replace your Fall gear kit. Don't let the clear skies and lack of snow fool you. It's getting Wintertime cold in the Sierra, and clear skies make for very cold nights. Winter temps have descended on the Sierra, even if Winter snows have not.
But here I'm concerned with providing you with the best information about Sierra weather and trail conditions possible. So you can anticipate the rapid changes in "trail" conditions that are now possible. My approach is to match my layering with the range of temps and conditions I anticipate. Check out the Gear page on the Trail guide and the Winter Gear Selection videos on YouTube.
Rapidly Changing Conditions?
January 5, 2012
Winter conditions are deepening, bringing cooler temps but not yet even a threat of significant snow to the Sierra Nevada as of January 5, 2012. To me this means that conditions in the Sierra can and will change rapidly.
Just wait until the South Pacific throws a mass of super-heated tropical mositure at the Sierra. Three feet of snow can fall in one night.
You will need to anticipate the possibility of snow obscuring the trail and terrain along with deep cold conditions requiring thicker gear. You must be prepared and geared for the physical difficulities of unexpected snow travel.
Seriously, these conditions "on the ground" could change in a heartbeat due to the low temps in the Sierra. Any moisture that blows up there will come down as snow. Local storms and flurries that are not connected to any major storm fronts are regular events. Though "local" weather is generally limited in power, these mini-storms can cover the terain with a light coat of snow and ice.
We saw Winter conditions persisting into Spring this year and Spring conditions pushed deep into the Summer. The Spring Thaw of 2011 page recorded the slow thaw of 2011.
These conditions made the Summer of 2011 one of the shortest backpacking seasons in recent memory? These aberant weather patterns have continued into the Fall and Winter of 2011-2012.
If these very strange conditions continue we may well see the earliest opening of the Pacific Crest Trail hiking season in decades. Maybe...
Happy Trails,
Alex
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