2013 PCT – What kind of “snow year” is it?

The website below allows you to put in different years and check out various Snow Analysis graphs so you can compare the current year to any prior year. Perhaps you can get an idea of where we are now vs some other year when conditions were High/Low. Either way, early March is really too early to do much useful analysis. Two years ago Colorado for example was below normal and then had an epic Spring of snows and ended up with all time records for snowpack by late May. So pretty worthless to do much analysis at this point.

http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/index.html?region=National&year=2013&month=3&day=6&units=e

What you need to know is how the snowpack is relative to a normal year. The NOAA site above isn't very useful for that. But postholer has a great chart with results from stations near the PCT: http://postholer.com/postholer/index.php?trail_id=1

As of today it looks like a low snow year, but things can change in the spring.

Sierra Snow Trip Report

;)

Right now is a bit early to make an accurate prediction. Generally the snow depth continues to increase until about March 20, and then it starts to decrease. For the Sierra Nevada south of Lake Tahoe, the snow is roughly 75% of an average year at this same time.

So, not knowing anything else about the rest of the season, I am planning my own stuff to go at least two weeks earlier than an average year. Back in the 2012 season, I went three or four weeks earlier than average.

–B.G.–

Susan,
You can ask over on Highsierratopix also. Very knowledgable members there, good sources of info Sierra related. Many professionals there. Tell Eric the owner I sent you by.
From what I have personally witnessed around Lake Tahoe a few weeks ago by Fallen Leaf Lake/Mt Tallac, only a few feet there, close to home, about the same. A storm came thru last night, have not heard how much snow it left. Still a little early for final numbers, but getting close.

If you make it up north here, let me know, I can treat in the Bucks Lake Wilderness area or there abouts as the PCT is a few miles from home, but I'm away during the week.
Duane

It’s difficult to summarize the entire western US in terms of snow-pack because there’s so much variation. Right now it’s quite low in the Sierra but around average/above average in Oregon and Washington. See the link below the image. Check these maps again in six weeks and you’ll have a much better idea

Mountain Snowpack Maps by Year