Greetings,

Discussion:
A cutoff low pressure system that brought precipitation throughout Northern California last weekend didn’t leave much of an impact on Sugar Bowl.  While many lower elevation sites received up to an inch of rainfall, the dynamics of the low left the upper elevations with much less precipitation.  Without cold air associated with the system, high snow levels brought minimal slushy snow and a rain mix.

Conditions were quiet until Thursday as a mid-latitude system brought widespread, steady rain into Northern California at sunrise.  The precipitation reached the higher elevations a bit thereafter, but like the weekend system, without a cold air source, the snow levels are high.  Rain began falling at the base with wet snow restricted to the highest elevations.

The mix of precipitation will continue at the resort until Thursday evening.  A couple of inches of wet snow may accumulate on the higher slopes, but nothing is expected at the base.  Temperatures will cool enough overnight to bring snow levels down to near the base, but with the precipitation moving out, accumulations are unlikely.

The Friday through Sunday pattern will have strong moisture moving into the Pacific Northwest.  Some will make its way into Northern California, but Sugar Bowl will lie on the very southern edge of that moisture.  This will bring partly to mostly cloudy conditions for the entire weekend and chances of isolated snow showers.  The temperatures will be a touch cooler, thereby bringing snow or a mix down to the base.  Not near enough moisture will reach our area for any accumulations through Sunday sunset.  Daytime temperatures will mostly be in the mid 30s to low 40s.

A little bit of energy will move through Sunday night and into Monday morning.  It will increase snow showers and bring a chance of light accumulations by sunrise Monday. Unfortunately, accumulations will be nowhere near what the Northern Sierra really needs.  Snow shower chances end later on Monday.

A high pressure ridge will re-build on Tuesday to bring dry conditions likely for the rest of the week.  Northeasterly winds will keep Tuesday from warming up much, but less winds Wednesday through Friday will have temperatures rebounding back to spring conditions.

One more note:  I’ll be out of the country next week and unable to provide a Thursday forecast for the weekend of April 13th and 14th.  If the longer range models hold up, no significant weather is expected anyway.  As long as the snow is still around, I’ll have a forecast ready for the spring picnic weekend.

Sugar Bowl Snow Depths as of Wednesday morning, April 3rd:
Station A (near the base of Crow’s Nest Chair): 14 inches, down 8 inches since the previous Wednesday.  Last year at this time: 44 inches.
Station B (between Calif St & Station B runs): 102 inches, down 5 inches since the previous Wednesday.  Last year at this time: 121 inches.
Current Truckee River Drainage Snowpack Water Equivalent:  59%

Weekend Forecast for 4/6/2013-4/7/2013:
Partly to mostly cloudy on Saturday.  A chance of isolated snow showers.  Lows in the mid 20s to low 30s, highs in the mid 30s to low 40s.  Southwest ridge winds to 25 mph.

Partly to mostly cloudy on Saturday.  A chance of scattered snow showers.  Lows in the mid 20s to low 30s, highs in the mid 30s to low 40s.  Southwest ridge winds to 25 mph.

Weekend Travel Weather:
No problems expected due to 7000 foot snow levels and very light precipitation.

Extended:
Clearing on Tuesday and dry through the week.

Have a Great Weekend,
Dan