Ongoing Pacific storms this April have continued to impact the Tahoe Sierra with more rain and snow. The snowpack is melting fast at the lower elevations, but the bulk of snow and its water equivalent is above the 7,000 foot elevation. Cool temperatures with cloud cover has slowed the traditional Spring melt.
Statistically, the Sierra snowpack reaches it maximum water density around the first week of April, but this year a wet Spring continues to add to the record amount of water in the mountains.
Due to its high base elevation of 8,260' above sea level, the Mt. Rose ski area has pulled in more than 63 feet of snow so far this winter – a new record for the resort. Currently, the snow is 19 feet deep on the slopes and ski conditions are excellent.
Although the whole Sierra Nevada range is running above average for precipitation this year, the Tahoe Sierra was in the bulls-eye for repeated Atmospheric Rivers and Pacific fronts.
As of today Squaw Valley has picked up 705" of snow — about 100" LESS than the resort piled up in 2011. This is a pedestrian/bike path well to the east of the resort itself where snowfall is much less than on the mountain. Note stop sign on the right.
Winter 2017 has crushed all historic records for precipitation in the northern Sierra Nevada.
Officials are now releasing more than 1,200 cubic feet per second of water out of Lake Tahoe in an effort to control the lake's anticipated record-breaking single season rise. Federal law mandates a a maximum legal limit of 6,229.1 feet in elevation on Big Blue and we're slowly approaching that level. Water releases from Lake Tahoe into the Truckee River must be carefully coordinated with flows from Donner Lake, the Little Truckee River and a handful of reservoirs to protect downtown Reno from flooding.
This cool, wet Spring is exactly what water management officials warned was the worst case scenario. These conditions allow the massive, water-logged snowpack to melt very slowly, which creates potential flood conditions when air temperatures begin to warm. Strong high pressure next week is expected to drive temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal, which will accelerate water runoff, especially along the eastern Sierra Front.
The snow is melting at lake level in Carnelian Bay. For the first time since December, I can see outside through most of my first floor windows. Tinker the cat is finally getting a chance to stretch her legs.
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