Minor snow storm 3rd January 2024

UPDATED Sunday 7th January: overnight we had our 11th minor storm of this winter, with 1.5 inches of fresh snow in Idyllwild and 2.0 inches at San Jacinto Peak. This morning I broke trail from Humber Park via Devil’s Slide, Wellman, and Peak trails to San Jacinto Peak, hiking with friend and neighbor Bones above Wellman Divide. We both chose to posthole, but snow depths are adequate for snowshoeing above 8000 ft, with 5-6 inches total at Saddle Junction (8100 ft) and 10 inches at San Jacinto Peak. Snow is heavily drifted in trails, 12-18 inches deep in places on the Wellman and Peak trails.

Wellman Divide (9700 ft) with an average snow depth of about 8 inches, including 1.5 inches new overnight, late morning 7th January 2024.

UPDATED Friday 5th January: early this morning we broke trail up South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak and across the north side towards Chinquapin Flat (photos below). Snow is shallow south of Tahquitz (3-5 inches) but heavily drifted on the north side (10-20 inches). Snow is soft enough that no traction devices are currently required.

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This is a brief summary of the tenth minor storm of this winter, which impacted the San Jacinto mountains in two phases, in the morning then late afternoon of 3rd January. The main morning storm brought snow to all elevations above about 4800 ft, with two inches in Idyllwild (at 5550 ft) and four inches at San Jacinto Peak. I hiked up through the storm and although it only snowed for about three hours (0730-1030) it was heavy at times, accumulating quickly on top of the remnant 1-2 inches from storms in late December. I recorded a short video report from San Jacinto Peak in the early afternoon (linked here) giving a feel for the conditions at that time.

I had the clearest part of the day around the Peak, but when I left around 1330 more cloud started to roll in. It lightly snowed on/off most of the afternoon and early evening, but then an intense thunderstorm cell passed over the mountain range near dusk as I descended Devil’s Slide Trail. A spectacular hour of “thundersnow” included an intense graupel storm, with many grains 0.25 inch in diameter. As I neared Humber Park, three times in about five minutes I had a remarkable show of sheet lightning reflecting bright bluish light off the immaculate fresh snow all around me. The afternoon storm added another 1-2 inches of snow to upper elevations, and about 0.5 inch in Idyllwild.

The Peak Trail at 10,500 ft looking NNE towards Miller Peak, late morning 3rd January 2024, as the main snow storm cleared.

Humber Park is temporarily closed. There is legal parking for nine vehicles just below the locked gate (an Adventure Pass or equivalent should still be displayed).

WEATHER

Temperatures will remain below seasonal into the second half of January 2024. Two further storm systems are currently forecast. The next, in the early morning of Sunday 7th January, was originally forecast to be a major snow-producing storm, but is now expected to be minor, with only 1-3 inches of snow at upper and mid elevations, and a freeze level again near 5000 ft. Another cold and possibly significant snow-generating storm is tentatively forecast for 11th-14th January; the forecasts remain very uncertain regarding details of timing, depths and elevational distribution of potential snowfall.

Air temperatures above 10,000 ft elevation are now typically in the 20s Fahrenheit (-6 to -2°C), but fall much lower during storm systems. For the first half of January, windchill temperatures at high elevations will generally be far below freezing, often well below 0°F (-18°C) on days during and immediately around storm systems. Such conditions require appropriate clothing and equipment for extremely cold conditions.

At San Jacinto Peak (3295m/10,810ft) on Wednesday 3rd January 2024 at 1245 the air temperature was 13.7°F (-10°C), with a windchill temperature of -13.0°F (-25°C), 98% relative humidity, and a bitter WSW wind sustained at 18 mph gusting to 32.4 mph.

At the Peak on Tuesday 2nd January 2024 at 0910 the air temperature was 27.3°F (-3°C), with a windchill temperature of 16.7°F (-8°C), 28% relative humidity, and a fresh due West wind sustained at 6 mph gusting to 8.3 mph.

The San Jacinto high country as seen from Tahquitz Peak, 5th January 2024. Note the *virga* (precipitation not reaching the ground) directly above San Jacinto Peak.

TRAIL CONDITIONS

There is continuous light-to-moderate snow cover on all trails above about 5500 ft, with patchy icy snow sections lower in places. Snow depths measured at specific locations are given below.

Tracks known to be broken through the snow at this time include (this is not a comprehensive list): Devil’s Slide Trail via the Wellman and Peak trails to San Jacinto Peak, from Long Valley on the Round Valley Trail to Wellman Divide, South Ridge Trail from South Ridge Road to Tahquitz Peak, most of the trail on the north side of Tahquitz Peak from near Chinquapin Flat to the peak.

Spikes are recommended everywhere above about 6000 ft at this time. This elevation will rise steadily on 4th-6th due to melting especially in sun-exposed areas. Snow depths are adequate (but far from optimal) for snowshoes above about 8000 ft. Depths and snow structure are both generally unsuitable for crampons even at the highest elevations at this time. Further storms forecast for 7th and 11th-13th may change these recommendations.

The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak has a traveled track (photo below) to follow through 10-20 inches of drifted powder (largely graupel). Spikes are not currently helpful due to the soft nature of the snow, but many hikers may find carrying them useful, depending on their comfort level hiking in variable snow conditions.

SNOW DEPTHS measured on 3rd and 5th January 2024 are as follows. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying storms, and the mobile nature of graupel, there has been considerable drifting, especially accumulating in trails. Altitudes and PCT mileages are approximate.

San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 7 inches (4-5 inches new snowfall on 3rd January)

Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 5 inches (4 inches new snow, see photos below)

Round Valley (9100 ft): 5 inches total [special thanks to Kyle Eubanks for this information]

Annie’s Junction/approx. PCT Mile 181.8 (9070 ft): 4.5 inches (2.5-3 inches new snow)

Tahquitz Peak (8836 ft): 5 inches, but heavily drifted in trails [measured 5th January]

Long Valley (8600 ft): 3.5 inches total [special thanks to Kyle Eubanks for this information]

Saddle Junction/approx. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 3.5 inches (2-2.5 inches new snow)

Old Lookout Flat (7600 ft, 1.9 miles up South Ridge Trail from South Ridge Road): 3.5 inches [measured 5th January]

Devil’s Slide Trail at Humber Park (6550 ft): 3 inches (all new snow on 3rd)

Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 2.5 inches (all new snow on 3rd)

Short section of South Ridge Trail on the north side of Tahquitz Peak between Chinquapin Flat and the fire lookout, 5th January 2024. Although average snow depth is only about five inches, the graupel dominated snow is heavily drifted, 1-2 feet deep in places.

My ascending tracks breaking trail in the upper switchbacks of South Ridge Trail just south of Tahquitz Peak, 5th January 2024.

Graupel, the snow equivalent of hail, was a major component of the storm of 3rd January, and currently forms drifts at least one foot deep on the north side of Tahquitz Peak, 5th January 2024. Spikes get limited useful traction in this substrate, hiking poles may be the most valuable piece of equipment in such terrain.

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