It has taken until late January to get here, but finally the first significant snow-producing storm system of this winter – actually two back-to-back storms effectively merging into one – is forecast between Saturday 20th into the early morning of Tuesday 23rd January 2024.
Please check this page for periodic updates – the most recent is at the top – throughout the multiple day storm sequence. The next comprehensive Report update will be 23rd (or 24th) January.
UPDATE Tuesday 23rd January at 0800
With the additional two inches yesterday evening, San Jacinto Peak received a combined storm total of 16 inches of snow k(eight in each storm event). Including snow remaining from prior storms, total depth averages 20 inches, but is very heavily drifted in places.
Long Valley (8600 ft) has six inches, but Saddle Junction (8100 ft) nearly 12 inches.
Snow level was around 6000 ft, with 2.45 inches of rain in Idyllwild (at 5550 ft) over the past three days.
Snowshoes are now very useful above about 8000 ft, and spikes are recommended everywhere above 6000 ft, lower in places.
UPDATE Monday 22nd January at 1930
After a five hour hiatus, it started snowing again at San Jacinto Peak. Snowfall has generally been very light, but there was some intense graupel associated with a brief but spectacular lightning and thunder storm. New accumulation this evening has been two inches.
Long Valley added 3.5 inches of snow today, on top of two inches from the storm on Saturday, for a total depth near six inches. Round Valley added four inches, doubling the average depth there. [Many thanks to Kyle Eubanks for Long and Round Valley information.]
UPDATE Monday 22nd January at 1130
The second storm in 48 hours has so far produced six inches of fresh snow at San Jacinto Peak, on top of 8 inches in the first storm, and 3-4 inches remaining from prior storms. However that 18 inches is heavily drifted, at least 2-3 feet deep in places.
Rainfall in Idyllwild has added up to 0.7 inch since 0700 this morning, for a combined storms total of 2.26 inches since Saturday night.
UPDATE Monday 22nd January at 0930
Total rainfall accumulation since 20th in Idyllwild is now 1.86 inches, of which 0.3 inch has fallen in the last two-and-a-half hours. It is turning slushy, so freeze level is likely around 6000 ft.
On my hike this morning snow started falling at about 0700, and is accumulating steadily at roughly an inch per hour everywhere above at least 8000 ft. All of yesterday’s well-defined tracks are starting to disappear.
UPDATE Sunday 21st January at 1830
New snow totals from the storm on 20th-21st that I measured on my hike today are: 8 inches San Jacinto Peak (total depth 11-12 inches), 6 inches Wellman Divide (total 8), 5 inches Saddle Junction (total 7), 0.5 inch Humber Park (total 1 but patchy).
With that storm coming in from the south-west, there was a striking “rain shadow” and the western side of the mountain range received much more snow comparing similar elevations. Saddle Junction at 8100 ft had five inches by midday today, compared to two inches at Long Valley (at 8600 ft).
Total rainfall in Idyllwild is now at 1.20 inches, with light drizzle persisting up to 9000 ft all day on Sunday 21st.
UPDATE Sunday 21st January at 1030
Rain accumulation by 0700 was 0.92 inch in Idyllwild, with two inches of snow in Long Valley, four inches in Round Valley, and five inches of snow at San Jacinto Peak {many thanks to Kyle Eubanks for the latter data). Snow level last night was at 7500 ft on South Ridge and Devil’s Slide Trail, but this morning it has accumulated to a patchy 0.5 inch at 6300 ft in Pine Cove and there have even been occasional flakes in Idyllwild (at 5550 ft).
UPDATE Saturday 20th January at 1900
It started drizzling in Idyllwild (5550 ft) at 1100 and in Long Valley (8600 ft) at about 1145. Very light, intermittent snow started by about noon in the high country, with a snow level down to 7500 ft. Current accumulation 0.5 inch snow in Long Valley, and 1-2 inches of snow at San Jacinto Peak. Rainfall total by dusk was 0.51 inch in Idyllwild.
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