Lake Tahoe Weather-El Nino Winter?

The squirrels have gone absolutely crazy eating and actually cutting pine cones from the trees in preparation for a HUGE South Lake Tahoe  winter? Only time will tell but there are actual scientific indications for a big winter namely our old friend “El Nino” The El Nino is expected to strengthen later this fall and become a full fledged El Nino by mid winter.

El Nino does not always foretell a big winter but in a majority of cases winter of note are associated with an El Nino event.

Noteable El Nino winter from the past have been 1982-83; 1968-69; 2004-05; 1997-98. It is worth noting that the BIG winter of 1951-52 was not an strong El Nino but there have been some comparisons to that epic winter and how this El Nino is beginning and is forecast to locate itself. Maybe I need to bring in more firewood and get the hurricane lamps ready!

I have been trying to do further historic research an winter such as 1846-47 which of course was the winter the Donner Party was trapped in the Sierra’s and endured incredible hardships. That winter the snow was estimated at Donner lake to be over 22 feet deep! The estimates at Donner Summit were over 40 feet! Was that an El Nino year? I am checking.

Here are some recent articles relating to the upcoming El Nino event:

• El Nino could forecast disaster for Olympics (canada.com)
• El Nino’s back, can affect weather worldwide: experts (ctv.ca)
• New El Nino increases drought threat (telegraph.co.uk)
• El Nino should bring mild winter: expert (nationalpost.com)
• Should you take a chance on a season ski pass this winter? (cliffmass.blogspot.com)
• Why Does the Tale of the Donner Party Continue to Fascinate? (francesdinkelspiel.blogspot.com)
• The Donner party in proper context (boston.com)

Wild Lake Tahoe Weather Continues….Epic Winter to Follow?

The rain just keeps on coming. Lake Tahoe Weather.Now it is the talk of the really local locals who usually poo poo anything weather wise with a comment like….’back in 59 we had etc etc” But now even the old timers are looking up in the sky and wondering what the heck is going on! Since Memorial day weekend there has been rain almost everyday with June precipitation totals nearing all time records in the Reno area. See below

The recent moist and unstable pattern over western Nevada has
produced one of the wettest Junes on record in Reno. Another
series of showers brought rain to the Reno Airport Saturday
pushing the monthly total further up the list of wettest Junes on
record. The next good chance for rainfall in Reno will be Monday
night and Tuesday.

Below is a list of the top ten wettest Junes for Reno.

1920 1.94
1989 1.53
2009 1.45  total as June 14th
1932 1.40
1998 1.39
1938 1.31
1965 1.31
1969 1.29
1995 1.29
1892 1.27

Since May 30th the Reno Airport has received 1.83 inches of rain.

If you look close at those years many of them were huge snow total years especially 1969, 1995, 1998

Lake Tahoe Weather-Wild Thunderstorms, Flash Floods and Rain!

This has been an amazing week for weather at South Lake Tahoe! As a 30 year local of the Tahoe basin this may be the longest period of Thunderstorm activity that I can remember. This kind of activity usually occurs later in the summer during the southwerst’s Monsoon season and even then the Lake Tahoe region rarely sees days let alone weeks of thunderstrom acitvity. That being said the upside to all of thie moisture are numerous”

1) The fire season has been postponed even with all of the lightning-too wet as of now
2) The spring runoff has been enhanced by the extra precipitation
3) Fabulous gardening season will follow
4) The wildflowers in the high country will be outrageous and could start early and last very late
5) I like the rain….speaking as an Oregon Duck alumnus!

Local Storm Report
Current Lake Tahoe Forecast

Big Lake Tahoe Snow Storms?

Well, I have been away from this blog for a bit building a couple of new Lake Tahoe Vacation Rental sites but I really wanted to get back and discuss the upcoming 7-10 days which may make for an epic March!

The models are really coming together this morning with a series of storms moving toward the Lake Tahoe Basin, each a bit stronger and colder than the previous. The snow totals if everything works out in our favor could top 3-6 feet by the end of next weekend which would set up the ski and board resorts for an epic late-winter and spring! If you have not booked a trip with Pinnacle Lake Tahoe Getaways yet you might want to as what usually happens in these situations is a rush to book cabins after a big dump!

I digress. The first storm moving in now is much warmer than the subsequent storms will be therefore, rain will more than likely fall below 7000-7500 feet. The big story with this first storm will be the winds. A high wind advisory has been posted for Lake Tahoe and the Reno area through Monday with potentially damaging winds developing ahead of the precipitation. Once the initial front passes snow levels will come crashing down to below 5,000 feet on Monday and Monday night. The rest of the week the precipitation from the upcoming storms should be all snow with very dry and powdery snow falling in the Tahoe Basin and surrounding Lake Tahoe resorts.

The weather service will in all likelihood issue a winter storm watch on Monday for the next storm due in  Tuesday into Wednesday as the potential for a major winter storm now looks likely. 1-3 feet of snow could fall from this one and looking down the line a potent system for next weekend is taking shape which could produce another 1-3 feet of new snow.

All of this is great news for Lake Tahoe resorts, businesses and our guests but the biggest impact may be a significant increase in our snow pack and the subsequent spring and summer water supplies for California and Nevada. Stay tuned for more Lake Tahoe weather updates and ski and board conditions!

National Weather Service Discussion March 1, 2009

Champagne Powder For Presidents!

Good morning! Another 6-10 inches of dry powder fell overnight in the Lake Tahoe region with a ton more on the way! The forecast calls for more snow this afternoon ( Wednesday) with an additional 6-10 inches in the works and then another stronger storm will be taking aim at Lake Tahoe late Thursday into the weekend. The preliminary snow totals for the early weekend storm are 1-2 FEET!

Looking ahead it appears that the active weather patter will continue into the foreseeable future with each storm being wetter and a bit warmer than the smaller storms we have been experiencing.

Lets keep our fingers crossed that the stormy weather keeps on coming as the snowpack still needs help for a decent summer runoff and for an extended ski season which would dearly help the local Lake Tahoe economy.

National Weather Service Forecast 02/11/09

New Lake Tahoe Snow Totals 02/11/09

Kirkwood: 6-10 Inches

Heavenly: 4-6 Inches

Sierra at Tahoe: 8-10 Inches

Squaw Valley: 8-10 Inches

Mount Rose: 4-6 Inches

Northstar: 2-8 Inches

Alpine: 6-10Inches

Sugar Bowl: 8-12 Inches