Conditions Report
KCRA weather man Mark Finan went up to Echo Summit in South Lake Tahoe, CA today to measure snow depths.
We always talk about snowpack in terms of percent of average, so it’s very refreshing to see a measure of our snowpack in terms of depth. Mark is reporting that the snowpack is actually look much smaller than the percentages can show.
“At 5400′, there is only about 6-8” of snow. At 6000′ there is a foot or a little less. To find the deep snow, you need to be above 7000′. The numbers say the snowpack is 95% of average. It really should be wider and deeper at this time of year.” – Mark Finan, today
SNOW DEPTHS AT ECHO SUMMIT, CA TODAY AS MEASURED BY MARK FINAN:
- @ 8,000′ = 4+ feet of snow
- @7,000′ = 1-2 feet of snow
- @6,000′ = 10-12 inches of snow
- @5,400′ = 6-8 inches of snow
“A look at the Sierra snowpack…
We often show you how the Sierra snowpack looks in terms of the percentage of average. I want to show you what that looks like in terms of actual snow.
I took a trip up highway 50 on Saturday and was surprised at how little snow there was below 6000′. There had just been a good dumping 2 days before but the lower snow was going away.
After going up to Echo Summit, I went back down the hill and up to the Ice House Reservoir. The perspective from 5400′ is telling.
At 5400′, there is only about 6-8” of snow. At 6000′ there is a foot or a little less. To find the deep snow, you need to be above 7000′.
The numbers say the snowpack is 95% of average. It really should be wider and deeper at this time of year.” – Mark Finan, KCRA weather man, today
