Kirkwood Snow Report

February 11, 2014 at 8:49 AM

Sunny

Current Temp

Wind

Today's Forecast

Updated @0500 HIGHLIGHTS: Some high clouds today with temperatures forecast for the mid-30's with light winds.

Short-Term Weather Outlook

Updated @0500: Weather Discussion: Snowfall totals for the "near Pineapple Express" storm series are in and they are impressive enough. In general, the upper slopes of the Sierra Ski Resorts received between 4-6ft or "Sierra cement" laying down a good base for the upper slopes. Luckily this wasn't a bonafide Pineapple Express and snow levels didn't get too high. This forecaster's definition of a true Pineapple Express is hard to get... I like to see a point where the temperature and dew point at San Francisco is the same as Honolulu. That truly proves there is a connection from there to here. During this past weekend the WSW'erly jet stream that set up started about 100-200 miles north of Hawaii, so it wasn't quite as warm as it could be if starting farther south. Anyway, that's an academic discussion for another day. What we got was a blessing and there can't be anyone in California complaining. The jet is still out there and is active, but it has lifted northward in response to a ridge of high pressure pumping up some off the Central Coast. This morning's models lend confidence to the fact that the jet will probably stay too far north for any rain or snow of significance to make it down to Lake Tahoe through the end of the work week. The jet is forecast to drop southward over the weekend pushing a cold front down over NorCal late Saturday night. The support for the front is forecast to lift NE'ward though thus the front will likely weaken and only a short bout of light rain and snow is expected Sunday morning. Models look more promising for a colder storm expected through the middle of next week. It's only a 1-2 day storm though, but could be capable of dropping 1-2ft of "drier" snow across the Sierra, with snow levels dropping to 3000ft for the tail end of the storm.

Snow Stats

	Base	Summit
Last 24 Hours	0"	0"	Last 7 Days	76-112"
Last 48 Hours	18"	24"	Seasonal Total Range	160-226"
Storm Total	54"	82"	Base Depth	60"

The data for this real-time snow and weather report is obtained directly from the snow weather plots at Kirkwood Mountain Resort and the surrounding areas. Snow totals and snow accumulation are consistently 15 to 20% more than reported as a result of wind, micro squalls and snow loading. Weather patterns at Kirkwood Mountain Resort are exceedingly difficult to predict – when venturing into the mountain, be prepared for rapid, dramatic weather changes.

Surface Conditions

Powder / Skier & Rider Packed packed / Machine groomed

Road Conditions: Open

Hwy. 88 via Tahoe:	Updated as of 0500: As reported by Cal Trans: Open / Clear
Hwy. 88 via Jackson:	Updated as of 0500: As reported by Cal Trans: Open / Clear

Lift Operations

Lift	Status	Groomed Runs
#1 SnowKirk	Open	Hay Flat, SnowKirk
#2 Caples Crest	Closed
#3 Iron Horse	Closed
#4 Sunrise	Closed
#5 Solitude	Open	Home Run, Mokelumne, Lower Zachary, Lower Monte Wolfe, Lower Olympic, Lower Lookout Janek
#6 Cornice Express	Open	Zachary
#7 TC Express	Open	Home Run, Hole N Wall, Up N Over, Jane's Jaunt, Squirrel Ridge
#9 Bunny	Open	Graduation, Funny Bunny, School Run
#10 Wagon Wheel "The Wall"	Closed
#11 The Reut	Open	Wagon Trail, Caples Crest Traverse, Buckboard
#14 Vista	Closed
#15 Covered Wagon	Closed

Lifts open from 9am-4pm.

* Lifts 12 & 13 are our Magic Carpets at Timber Creek. These are for exclusive use by the Tahoe Learning Center during lessons and not open to the public.

* Lift operation is dependent on weather conditions and snow safety and therefore subject to change at any time.

High Angle Grooming

Zachary

Open Bowls

Palisades, Wagon Wheel, Sentinel

Expedition: Kirkwood

Expedition:Kirkwood AIARE Level 2 - The Level 2 Course is a four day program that provides backcountry leaders the opportunity to advance their avalanche knowledge and decision making skills. The course also includes the introductory and prerequisite components for the professional progression: the Level 3 Certificate. The Level 2 builds from the introductory avalanche hazard management model introduced in the Level 1 and adds to it the evaluation of factors critical to stability evaluation. Students must have obtained a Level 1 Certificate before taking a Level 2 Course. Dates: Feb 14 - Feb 17 Cost: $495 Time: 9am to 3pm Info/Res: 209.258.7360

Parks & Pipes

Outlaw (Chair 5)	Open
Bandit (Chair 7)	Closed

Timber Creek Learning Center Open

Timber Creek is open, This includes Timber Creek Retail, Rentals, Ski and Ride School, as well as, Timber Creek Cafe.

Mountain Village Open

Kirkwood Mountain Sports Retail - 8:30am - 4:30pm Kirkwood Mountain Sports Village Rentals - 8:30am - 4:30pm Kirkwood Mountain Sports Demo Center - Closed Expedition Kirkwood/Ski and Ride School - 8am - 4:30pm The Edge Tuning Center 8:30 - 4:30 Monday - Friday Village Ticket Office - 8:00am. - 4:30pm K-Bar - 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monte Wolfes - 8:00am - 4:30pm Off the Wall Bar - Friday, Saturday - 11:00am - 9:00pm Off the Wall Bar - Sunday 11:00am - 5:00pm

Kirkwood Cross Country & Snowshoe Center Open

Our Cross Country center is open with 12 kilometers of groomed trail in Kirkwood Meadows. We also have 5 miles of Snowshoe specific trails available. Try both Cross Country skis & snowshoes for the price of one rental. We offer both group & private lessons daily, lessons start at 10:30 and 1:30 and must must be booked in advance midweek by calling 209-258-7248. Join us February 8th for our monthly full moon snowshoe hike. Call 209-0258-7248 for information

Alpine County Lodging and Adventures

Merrill's Carson River Guest House Vacation Rental

Tuesday, February 11, 2014