Webcam shots

Questions and reports related to Sierra Nevada current and forecast conditions, as well as general precautions and safety information. Trail conditions, fire/smoke reports, mosquito reports, weather and snow conditions, stream crossing information, and more.
User avatar
RoguePhotonic
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1693
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:52 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Bakersfield CA
Contact:

Webcam shots

Post by RoguePhotonic »

Last year I posted some comparison shots in webcams showing snow levels. 2012 was an amazingly low snow year but the shots from this year make it looks even worse:

Image

Image
User avatar
rlown
Topix Docent
Posts: 8225
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:00 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Wilton, CA

Re: Webcam shots

Post by rlown »

It's really worse. plan your water people.
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11821
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Webcam shots

Post by maverick »

Tiulare, Kings, and Fresno Country declared disaster areas: http://sierra2thesea.net/agriculture/us ... to-drought" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
User avatar
The hermit
Topix Regular
Posts: 196
Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:25 am
Experience: N/A

Re: Webcam shots

Post by The hermit »

Ive been thinking its been way to dry this season(we only had one really good storm,around xmas). I had no idea how bad it was. Was hoping for a wet spring,that hope is fading fast. My usual fall trip may be impractical. What about the ferry @ edison? I seem to recall they used that water to refill shaver last year,shutting down the ferry way early
Shawn
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1061
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 9:56 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Webcam shots

Post by Shawn »

Sad deal for sure.

Image
User avatar
RoguePhotonic
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1693
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:52 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Bakersfield CA
Contact:

Re: Webcam shots

Post by RoguePhotonic »

I forgot about the VVR Ferry. That sucked not having it. I am going to have to adjust my plans based on it. Poor Jim was hurting last year from the lost business.
User avatar
sparky
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1029
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:01 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Webcam shots

Post by sparky »

Wow. This is disheartening!
User avatar
paul
Topix Expert
Posts: 787
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:35 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Webcam shots

Post by paul »

Well, the interesting thing is that the snow surveys and sensors tell a somewhat different story. Currently the snowpack is slightly ahead of last year's at the same point, for all sections (north,middle, south) of the Sierra. At higher elevation, and particularly between Yosemite and Tahoe, things are more ahead of last year, while at lower elevations, there's less snow than last year.
How much snow falls in the next 6 weeks is going to be the determining factor.

Daily regional snow plots:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/PLOT_SWC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

remote sensors:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/getAll?sens_num=3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

PS- a little research shows that the snow surveys for Mineral king show more snow there this year than last year (measured start of March), and there had been a significant snowfall on the 18th/19th in that area in 2012

Here's march 14, 2012 at mineral king:

http://mk-webcam.net/archives/B201203141458.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Troutdog 59
Topix Expert
Posts: 649
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:11 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Clovis

Re: Webcam shots

Post by Troutdog 59 »

Need to be careful looking at photos as they can be decieving. We had some storms in March last year beleive it or not. Look at March 10th of 2012 and its pretty similar. Less this year, but not by much and this is not real high in elevation (~7,800'). Not saying this year will be better or worse, just that its been warm of late here in the Central Valley, which is melting snow at lower elevations.
Once in a while you can get shown the light
In the strangest places if you look at it right.

The Grateful Dead
User avatar
John Dittli
Topix Expert
Posts: 479
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Crooked Creek
Contact:

Re: Webcam shots

Post by John Dittli »

We'll be heading out on snow surveys again in the next couple of days. But I can say that the pack this year is quickly approaching that of last and IF the warm spring continues will drop below last years just as fast.

What is different this year is that most all the snow came in December. After that, due to cold temps and low sun angle, there was not much lost during the winter months, so the pack remained relatively static. The exception to that, is the south facing slopes as shown in the Mineral King webcam. From what I've seen out there this winter, a lot of the south slopes have been cooked dry after months of sun.

If this trend continues, like a few years ago (don't remember which year), this summer the south slopes will be exceptionally dry.

Here's the current graph showing this years trend compared to last, wet, and dry,
Screen Shot 2013-03-22 at 11.57.35 AM.png
Since the courses we measure aren't south facing, the graphs will not show the loss of snow on those slopes.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Walk the Sky: Following the John Muir Trail
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 43 guests