CA/NV Snow Storms January 25-27, 2008 Discussion & Analysis

[srainhoutx]

WWUS85 KREV 042049 SPSREV
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1245 PM PST FRI JAN 4 2008


CAZ070>073-NVZ001>005-050200- SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA-LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS- EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-MONO- MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY- MINDEN AREA-WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE- NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CEDARVILLE...EAGLEVILLE... FORT BIDWELL...PORTOLA...SUSANVILLE...WESTWOOD...SIERRAVILLE... SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...TAHOE CITY...TRUCKEE...MARKLEEVILLE... BRIDGEPORT...COLEVILLE...LEE VINING...MAMMOTH LAKES...HAWTHORNE... YERINGTON...SMITH VALLEY...MINA...SCHURZ...GLENBROOK... INCLINE VILLAGE...SPARKS...VERDI...GARDNERVILLE...FERNLEY... FALLON...LOVELOCK...SILVER SPRINGS...NIXON...IMLAY...EMPIRE... GERLACH 1245 PM PST FRI JAN 4 2008 ...MAJOR WINTER STORM IMPACTING INTO THE SIERRA...
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF IMPACTS FROM THIS STORM: .
..CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
* BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 4 AM SATURDAY FOR THE SIERRA NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80.
* BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 10 AM SATURDAY FOR THE SIERRA SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 INCLUDING THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN AND MONO COUNTY.
* HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 3 PM TODAY FOR THE RENO-CARSON CITY- MINDEN AREA.
* HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 PM TODAY FOR LYON...MINERAL... CHURCHILL AND PERSHING COUNTIES.
* WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 4 AM SATURDAY FOR NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY AND THE SURPRISE VALLEY.
* WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 3 PM TODAY T0 10 AM SATURDAY FOR THE RENO-CARSON CITY AREA SOUTH TO MINDEN AND GARDNERVILLE.
* WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM TODAY TO 10 AM SATURDAY FOR WESTERN NEVADA SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 95.
* FLOOD WARNING UNTIL 4 PM TODAY FOR MOST VALLEY AREAS OF WESTERN NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA BELOW THE SNOW LEVEL.

...STORM INFORMATION...
A MAJOR WINTER STORM IS MOVING INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND WILL IMPACT THE SIERRA AND WESTERN NEVADA THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. COLD AIR FROM A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL COMBINE WITH A PLUME OF SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE TO PRODUCE VERY LARGE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS BETWEEN THIS MORNING AND SATURDAY MORNING IN THE SIERRA. HEAVY SNOW IS ALSO LIKELY FOR THE VALLEY FLOORS OF NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA BETWEEN THIS AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY MORNING...THIS INCLUDES THE RENO-CARSON CITY AREA. THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE STRONG AND DAMAGING WINDS GUSTS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. THESE WINDS ARE FORECAST TO COMBINE WITH HEAVY SNOW TO PRODUCE DANGEROUS BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN THE SIERRA. STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE...SHOULD IT BECOME NECESSARY. CITIZENS CAN ASSIST IN THIS EFFORT BY STAYING INFORMED ON THE LATEST FORECASTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO.
...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...
FOR THE SIERRA...FROM TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING * 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE 7000 FEET WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG THE SIERRA CREST. * 1 TO 3 FEET BETWEEN 5000 AND 7000 FEET INCLUDING THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN. FOR WESTERN NEVADA AND NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA...FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING * 4 TO 10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE WITH AMOUNTS UP TO 16 INCHES IN THE FOOTHILLS.
...WINDS...
STRONG AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS ARE FORECAST. FOR THE SIERRA RIDGES...WINDS OF 80 TO 110 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 150 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING. FOR THE EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES AND WESTERN NEVADA...WINDS OF 30 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON... PARTICULARLY IN WIND PRONE AREAS. STRONG WINDS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TONIGHT PRODUCING AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES. IN THE GREAT BASIN AREAS OF PERSHING AND CHURCHILL COUNTIES...WINDS WILL ALSO CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING DUST WHICH MAY LOWER VISIBILITIES BELOW 1 MILE AT TIMES. BLOWING DUST HAS BEEN REPORTED AT LOVELOCK IN COMBINATION WITH LIGHT RAIN! WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE MAY DOWN TREES....UTILITY POLES...AND DAMAGE FENCES AND ROOFS. HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES MAY OVER TURN IF ATTEMPTING TO TRAVEL IN AREAS OF STRONG CROSS WINDS.
...RIVERS AND STREAMS...
A FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 4 PM FOR MOST OF THE VALLEY AREAS OF WESTERN NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA...BELOW THE SNOW LEVEL. PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE RISES ON SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS. SOME RUNOFF IS POSSIBLE ON RECENTLY BURNED SLOPES SUCH AS THE HAWKEN FIRE SITE NEAR RENO AND THE LARSON FIRE NEAR COLEVILLE. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY! THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY.
...TRAVEL IMPACTS FOR THE SIERRA...
* DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL IN THE SIERRA TODAY AND SATURDAY. * ATTEMPTING TO TRAVEL IN THE SIERRA WILL PUT YOUR LIFE AT RISK! MOST SIERRA ROADS WILL BE CLOSED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME DURING THIS STORM DUE TO THE DANGEROUS BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS WILL GENERATE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS WITH ZERO VISIBILITY WHICH WILL MAKE TRAVEL IMPOSSIBLE. SNOWFALL RATES OF 2 TO 4 INCHES PER HOUR WILL OCCUR TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. DURING THE STRONGEST PORTION OF THE STORM THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...SNOWFALL RATES OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES WILL BE NEAR 6 INCHES PER HOUR. THESE VERY HIGH SNOWFALL RATES WILL MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ROAD CREWS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL TO KEEP ROADS PASSABLE AND TO ASSIST STRANDED VEHICLES. IF YOU DO ATTEMPT TRAVEL IN THE SIERRA YOUR CHANCES OF BEING STRANDED FOR MORE THAN A FEW HOURS IS VERY HIGH. DELAY ALL TRAVEL PLANS IN THE SIERRA UNTIL AFTER THE STORM PASSES AND ROAD CONDITIONS IMPROVE LATE THIS WEEKEND OR EARLY NEXT WEEK. ALTERNATE ROUTES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE...AS DANGEROUS BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL AFFECT ALL ROADS CROSSING THE SIERRA FROM LASSEN COUNTY SOUTHWARD TO MONO COUNTY. .
..TRAVEL IMPACTS FOR AREAS BELOW 5000 FEET...
* HIGHWAY 395 CURRENTLY HAS RESTRICTIONS TO CAMPERS...TRAILERS AND PERMIT LOADS. TRAVEL CONDITIONS ACROSS WESTERN NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA WILL BE IMPACTED BY STRONG WINDS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN WILL CONTINUE IN THE LOWER VALLEYS THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL CHANGE TO SNOW LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE REGION. SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/ ... ev&pil=sps

[HURAKAN]

Extremely impressive storm.

[JonathanBelles]

the title needs some updating from Lake Tahoe Blizzard to California and Nevada (needs an intense adjective)

[CrazyC83]

What is the pressure of this? Like 930mb?

[CrazyC83]

Category 5 wind gust.

Code: Select all

Hourly data from Ward Mountain near Lake Tahoe (Elevation 8637 Ft)
Collected by the National Weather Service - Reno NV

 MN DY    Hour       Temp       |       Wind        |
                  av   mx   mn  | Dir   Speed   Gst |
  1 4     1200    27   27   26    230     56    118
  1 4     1100    27   28   26    229     86    163
  1 4     1000    26   27   26    224     79    127
  1 4     0900    26   27   26    222     71    113
  1 4     0800    27   27   27    210     79    124
  1 4     0700    27   28   27    206     86    129
  1 4     0600    27   28   27    206     73    112


Wow 163 mph! And it has gone up since!

At 3 pm PST they had winds sustained at 110 mph (top of Cat 2) gusting to 165 mph!

MN DY Hour Temp | Wind |
av mx mn | Dir Speed Gst |
1 4 1800 19 19 18 251 26 43
1 4 1700 21 22 19 257 46 81
1 4 1600 24 29 22 262 79 140
1 4 1500 29 30 29 227 110 158
1 4 1400 29 29 28 218 105 153
1 4 1300 29 29 27 226 6999 165
1 4 1200 27 27 26 230 56 118

And those are only hourly estimates - you can be sure it had higher numbers in the Cat 3 sustained range in between periods...

[RL3AO]

What is the pressure of this? Like 930mb?

960 or so.

[CrazyC83]

Do upper-level winds correlate well with hurricane winds when it come to these kind of storms? I know at 10,000 feet in a hurricane, they say the winds are 90% that at sea level...

[Coredesat]

Do upper-level winds correlate well with hurricane winds when it come to these kind of storms? I know at 10,000 feet in a hurricane, they say the winds are 90% that at sea level...

Fairly sure they do, which is why wind gusts are such a concern in these areas.

[Ed Mahmoud]

Stephanie Abrams at Lake Tahoe!


Hopefully warmly dressed...

[srainhoutx]

Amazing storm totals and still falling with more on the way...

http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwat ... %20warning

[JonathanBelles]

Abrams was horrid last night with no makeup, and it was only a head shot.

anyway, this storm will most likely be going into record books, and it will probably excite the Ski Resort owners.

[Aslkahuna]

Transfer of momentum processes in baroclinic systems like this one are different than for that of hurricanes where it's strictly convective in nature. There's no one hard and fast rule for using any level for determining surface winds though usually it's the 850 mb level that's used and the factor is usually less than 90%. For those of us at or near the 850 mb level then we use the H7 level but again it depends upon circumstances and terrain.

Steve

[srainhoutx]

NWUS55 KREV 051958
LSRREV

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1158 AM PST SAT JAN 05 2008

..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..

0400 AM HEAVY SNOW MOUNT ROSE SKI AREA 39.33N 119.89W
01/05/2008 E48.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC

40-48 INCHES STORM TOTAL. 18-24 INCHES LAST 12 HOURS

0545 AM HEAVY SNOW 2 W MAMMOTH LAKES 37.64N 118.99W
01/05/2008 M60.0 INCH MONO CA PUBLIC

3-5 FEET OF SNOW AT MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN SKI AREA LAST 24
HOURS

0546 AM FLASH FLOOD FERNLEY 39.61N 119.24W
01/05/2008 LYON NV LAW ENFORCEMENT

RENO NHP REPORTED A LEVEE BREAK ALONG THE TRUCKEE CANAL
NEAR FARM DISTRICT ROAD AND RICCI ROAD IN FERNLEY. THEY
REPORTED THAT APPROXIMATELY 200 HOMES WERE UNDER 3 FEET
OF WATER.

0600 AM HEAVY SNOW STEAD 39.64N 119.88W
01/05/2008 M15.0 INCH WASHOE NV CO-OP OBSERVER

SINCE CHANGEOVER YESTERDAY AFTERNOON

0600 AM HEAVY SNOW SQUAW VALLEY 39.20N 120.22W
01/05/2008 M36.0 INCH PLACER CA PUBLIC

2-3 FEET LAST 24 HOURS

0603 AM HEAVY SNOW NORTHSTAR 39.28N 120.12W
01/05/2008 M32.0 INCH PLACER CA PUBLIC

25-32 INCHES LAST 24 HOURS

0607 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 E INCLINE VILLAGE 39.25N 119.94W
01/05/2008 M48.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC

AT DIAMOND PEAK SKI AREA. 18 INCHES AT 6700 FEET WITH 4
FEET AT 8500 FEET

0737 AM HEAVY SNOW 2 W BLAIRSDEN 39.78N 120.65W
01/05/2008 M9.0 INCH PLUMAS CA TRAINED SPOTTER

9 INCHES IN GRAEAGLE AT 4,350 FT.

0741 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 N CARSON CITY 39.18N 119.77W
01/05/2008 M8.0 INCH CARSON CITY NV TRAINED SPOTTER

0744 AM HEAVY SNOW SPARKS 39.54N 119.74W
01/05/2008 M10.0 INCH WASHOE NV NWS EMPLOYEE

0800 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 NE INCLINE VILLAGE 39.26N 119.94W
01/05/2008 M25.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER

SNOWFALL FROM 6AM 1/4 TO 8AM 1/5 AT 6700 FEET.

0824 AM HEAVY SNOW COLD SPRINGS VALLEY 39.67N 119.96W
01/05/2008 M10.0 INCH WASHOE NV NWS EMPLOYEE

0846 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 N COLD SPRINGS VALLEY 39.68N 119.96W
01/05/2008 M12.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER

11.5 INCHES NEW SNOW. 1.5 INCHES LIQUID EQUIVALENT FROM
SNOW. 3.2 INCHES TOTAL PRECIP. COLD SPRINGS VALLEY, NV.

0846 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 N SLOAT 39.87N 120.72W
01/05/2008 M6.0 INCH PLUMAS CA TRAINED SPOTTER

5-6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW. 3 INCHES OF RAIN BEFORE IT
SWITCHED TO SNOW. JUST EAST OF LEE SUMMIT NEAR 4200 FEET
ELEVATION.

0847 AM HEAVY SNOW 3 S BOCA RESERVOIR 39.36N 120.09W
01/05/2008 E12.0 INCH NEVADA CA TRAINED SPOTTER

ABOUT 12 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN GLENSHIRE.

0851 AM HEAVY SNOW 4 W PROSSER CREEK RESER 39.37N 120.25W
01/05/2008 E24.0 INCH NEVADA CA TRAINED SPOTTER

2 FEET NEW SNOW THROUGH THIS MORNING. ELEVATION 6500 FEET
AT TAHOE-DONNER.

0853 AM HEAVY SNOW 5 E VIRGINIA CITY 39.30N 119.54W
01/05/2008 M5.0 INCH LYON NV TRAINED SPOTTER

5 INCHES NEW SNOW IN DAYTON, NV. 0.7 INCHES RAIN BEFORE
SNOWFALL BEGAN.

0855 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 N DOYLE 40.03N 120.11W
01/05/2008 M8.0 INCH LASSEN CA TRAINED SPOTTER

8 INCHES NEW SNOW. 1.88 INCHES TOTAL LIQUID EQUIVALENT.

0946 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 WNW MAMMOTH LAKES 37.65N 118.98W
01/05/2008 M36.0 INCH MONO CA TRAINED SPOTTER

3 FEET NEW SNOW ABOVE 8000 FEET IN MAMMOTH LAKES. 2 FEET
NEW SNOW AT CROWLEY LAKE AT 7000 FEET.

1016 AM HEAVY SNOW 2 W JOHNSON LANE 39.04N 119.76W
01/05/2008 M7.0 INCH DOUGLAS NV TRAINED SPOTTER

STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AS OF 1000AM.

1057 AM HEAVY SNOW 3 NE SPANISH SPRINGS 39.65N 119.69W
01/05/2008 M8.5 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER

STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AS OF 1100AM.

1057 AM HEAVY RAIN LUNING 38.51N 118.18W
01/05/2008 M1.50 INCH MINERAL NV TRAINED SPOTTER

STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AS OF 1100AM.

1057 AM HEAVY SNOW 5 SSW TAHOE CITY 39.10N 120.17W
01/05/2008 M24.0 INCH PLACER CA TRAINED SPOTTER

18 TO 24 INCHES REPORTED IN THE TAHOMA AREA ON THE WEST
SHORE OF LAKE TAHOE AT 6350 FT. CURRENTLY MODERATE TO
HEAVY SNOW.

1122 AM HEAVY SNOW PORTOLA 39.80N 120.47W
01/05/2008 M13.0 INCH PLUMAS CA CO-OP OBSERVER

2.53 INCHES TOTAL PRECIPITATION WITH 13.0 INCHES OF SNOW
AT 4850 FT.

1124 AM HEAVY SNOW DAGGET PASS 38.98N 119.89W
01/05/2008 M19.0 INCH DOUGLAS NV CO-OP OBSERVER

STORM TOTAL AS OF 1130AM WITH 29 INCHES ON GROUND.

1128 AM HEAVY SNOW SPOONER SUMMIT 39.10N 119.90W
01/05/2008 M36.0 INCH DOUGLAS NV MESONET

36 INCHES REPORTED AT SPONNER SUMMIT AS OF 1130AM AND
STILL SNOWING MODERATELY.

1132 AM HEAVY SLEET CARSON CITY 39.17N 119.76W
01/05/2008 M8.00 INCH CARSON CITY NV CO-OP OBSERVER

STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AS OF 1130AM.

1140 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 W DOYLE 40.02N 120.12W
01/05/2008 M18.0 INCH LASSEN CA TRAINED SPOTTER

STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AS OF 1130AM AT 4500 FT.

1143 AM HEAVY RAIN YERINGTON 38.99N 119.16W
01/05/2008 M1.10 INCH LYON NV CO-OP OBSERVER

STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AS OF 1130AM WITH 1 INCH OF SNOW.

1154 AM HEAVY SNOW 1 NW SPANISH SPRINGS 39.63N 119.73W
01/05/2008 M12.0 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER

STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AS OF 1145AM AT 4600 FT. 3 FT DRIFTS
ALSO REPORTED.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/rev/lsr/RNOLSRREV.0801051959

[srainhoutx]

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0010
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0137 PM CST SAT JAN 05 2008

AREAS AFFECTED...SIERRA MOUNTAINS OF CA

CONCERNING...HEAVY SNOW

VALID 051937Z - 060030Z

HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE/DEVELOP SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE
SIERRA THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...WITH RATES OF 2-3 IN/HR POSSIBLE IN
THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS/WEST FACING SLOPES.

WITH UPPER TROUGH CENTERED OFF THE COAST OF BRITISH
COLUMBIA...GRADUALLY COOLING MID LEVEL TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN
STEEPENING MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ACROSS NORTHERN CA AMIDST STRONG
WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT...WITH THE LIKLIHOOD OF CONVECTIVE SNOW/POSSIBLE
ISOLATED THUNDERSNOW ACROSS THE SIERRA THIS AFTERNOON. SCATTERED
CLOUD-GROUND LIGHTNING HAS BEEN COMMON NEAR/JUST OFF THE SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA LATE THIS MORNING IN ASSOCIATION WITH BANDS OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY PRECIPITATION SPREADING INLAND. AN EASTWARD
EXTRAPOLATION OF THIS PLUME SHOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN HEAVY
SNOW ACROSS THE NORTHERN/CENTRAL SIERRA THROUGH MID AFTERNOON...WITH
HEAVY SNOW INCREASING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN SIERRA TOWARD 00Z PER
LATEST NAM/RUC/SREF GUIDANCE.

SIMILAR TO OBSERVED WET BULB PROFILE PER SPECIAL 15Z RAOB FROM
OAKLAND...MESONET OBSERVATIONS SUGGEST SNOW LEVELS ARE RUNNING
AROUND 3000-3500 FT ACROSS THE NORTHERN SIERRA...WITH 4500-5000 FT
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN SIERRA. AS 12Z NAM/15Z RUC FORECAST SOUNDINGS
SUGGEST...SOME LOWERING /500 FT/ CAN BE ANTICIPATED ACROSS THE
NORTHERN SIERRA THIS AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE
HEAVIER CONVECTIVE BURSTS/HIGHEST PRECIPITATION RATES. COMBINATION
OF STRONG/PERSISTENT OROGRAPHIC LIFT AND MODEST MOISTURE...ALONG
WITH STEEPENING LAPSE RATES/CONVECTIVE INFLUENCE...SUGGEST SNOW
RATES OF 2-3 IN/HR WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON IN THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS/WEST FACING SLOPES OF THE SIERRA.

..GUYER.. 01/05/2008


http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0010.html

[Tstormwatcher]

Anyone know of a site that lists the actual snow fall from this series of storms?

[Aslkahuna]

BTW, that photo of Abrams was NOT taken at Lake Tahoe. For starters, the trees in the background are all wrong as most trees around Tahoe are conifers (mainly Pine) and very tall and there are no sand bars extending into the lake which has a sharp drop in depth from the shoreline. The Marinas have jetties and piers extending into the Lake. Also, this time of year one does not dress like that at Tahoe unless one wants to invite frostbite or hypothermia. Go the western region site at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov and from there select the appropriate WSFO (Sacramento, Reno, Fresno) they should have either a PNS or a listing on site of snowfall reports from the mesonet sites in the mountains (the reports from Fresno indicated snowfall amounts in the 4-6 ft range)

Steve

[Aslkahuna]

Got a hold of a snowfall report from the Kirkwood ski resort. The last 24 hours snowfall of 36 inches low and 54 inches higher up. Last 48 hours 84-120 inches and storm total 96-132 inches.

Steve

[Aslkahuna]

Some storm totals up to now (it's still snowing in places in the Sierra)
Meyers 90 inches
Soda Springs 68 inches
Donner (Boreal Ski Resort) 68 inches
Northstar 63 inches
Incline Village 56 inches
Squaw Valley Ski Resort 68 inches
Alpine Meadows 56 inches
Mt Rose 72 inches

Steve

[pwrdog]

Mammoth Mt Summit..... 90 inches...

[pwrdog]

Kirkwood storm total now 132 inches....