State of the Snowpack for 11/21/2020 - 11/27/2020

Submitted by steve on Fri, 11/27/2020 - 12:48
Dates of the Week: 
11/21/2020 to 11/27/2020
Avalanche Problems: 
General Snowpack Structure: 
  • 1-2' supportable snowpack on northerly aspects above 8600' in the Mt. Rose area and 7800' along the Sierra Crest
  • No reactive weak layers present
  • Surface hoar, near surface facet, graupel mix on the snow surface could become a future issue when the next storm arrives
Weather Events: 
  • A trace to 1'' of new snow
  • Gale force SW and NE wind events
  • Mostly clear with cold nights and sunny days

Central Sierra Nevada / Lake Tahoe Snowpack, Weather, and Avalanche Observations for California and Nevada from SAC

Date and time of observation or avalanche occurrence Location Region Observation Type Photos Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Videos Snowpit videos (tests, etc) Observation made by
12/02/2020 - 12:00 Tamarack Peak Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation Variable surface condition on Tamarack Peak Lots of rocks still protruding from the snowpack Numerous tracks and uneven surfaces in the Hourglass Pit location on a NE aspect Forecaster
12/02/2020 - 12:00 Mt Judah Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Wind Scoured NE Aspect of N Judah HS 75cm with obvious near surface faceting layer Near surface facets easy to identify and do not form snowball ground level facets are rounder smaller and wetter southern exposure ridgeline Public
12/01/2020 - 13:00 Porthole Gap Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Professional Observer
12/01/2020 - 11:15 Stoney Ridge West Shore Area Snowpack Observation Lots of granite boulders, but avoidable with care. Forecaster
11/30/2020 - 13:00 Blackwood Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area Snowpack Observation Buried Surface Hoar Buried Surface Hoar Public
11/30/2020 - 12:00 Silver Peak Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area Snowpack Observation Large surface hoar buried just below surface. Forecaster
11/29/2020 - 11:30 NE of Mt. Lola Independence Lake Area Snowpack Observation ~10 inches (25 cm) of settlement and consolidation Shallow but supportable snow in a meadow around 6900 ft. Forecaster
11/29/2020 - 06:45 Red Lake Peak (SW Shoulder) Carson Pass Area Snowpack Observation Tour objective and snow profile location (arrow) This thermapen has seen more snowpacks than turkeys Sastrugi snow was widespread Public
11/28/2020 - 10:15 Andesite Ridge Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Shallow supportable snowpack with numerous but avoidable hazards. Previous wind scouring on the ridgetop leaving behind sastrugi formations. Previous wind scouring on E aspects at treeline and above treeline. Ridgetop drifts perched above W aspect from previous E winds. W aspect pit location. Forecaster
11/27/2020 - 13:00 Deep Creek Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area Snowpack Observation Public
11/27/2020 - 11:00 Far East Ridge of Tamarack Peak Mount Rose Area Snowpack Observation Wind affected slopes in exposed terrain Lots of bushes and creeks at the lower elevations Snowpit showing a shallow but mostly supportable snowpack More creeks and bushes at low elevations Forecaster
11/26/2020 - 08:15 Castle Pass Donner Summit Area Snowpack Observation Graupel on small surface hoar in meadow area Public