• Carson Now on Facebook
  • Follow Carson Now on Twitter
  • Follow Carson Now by RSS
  • Follow Carson Now by Email

UNR and ski resort mountaintop lab keep track of California and Nevada's wild weather swings

NORDEN, Calif. — Winds that tear weather gauges from their mountings and blizzards that bury chairlifts - this is the kind of weather that hits Donner Summit, and holds great interest to climatologists, meteorologists, hydrologists and water supply managers as well as creates one of the best regions for skiing in the world.

While this winter has been mild in comparison, strong winter storms like the 10 atmospheric river events that moved through the Northern Sierra Nevada region during the 2016-17 winter season are not uncommon. Those systems regularly generated 173-mile per hour winds and delivered more than 700-inches of snowfall, with the snowpack reaching depths of more than 20 feet.

The extreme weather was recorded in part by new instruments and technologies placed on a mountaintop in a collaboration between the University of Nevada, Reno's Nevada State Climatologist's Office and Sugar Bowl Resort.

Scientists at the College of Science and officials at the Lake Tahoe area ski resort partnered to study regional weather and the impacts of climate change in the Northern Sierra by way of installation of three weather stations at the resort. The installation collects and provides important weather-related information that can be viewed by the public, updated every 10 minutes, and is shared with the National Weather Service, U.S. Forest Service and Sierra Avalanche Center daily. It can be viewed online here. In addition, the data collected provides Sugar Bowl Resort with important details relevant to their avalanche control and slope grooming operations.

"Less than an hour from the University's campus in Reno, the nearly 8,400-foot summit of Mt. Lincoln is an ideal location for high-elevation climate observations," said Douglas Boyle, associate professor in the Department of Geography in the College of Science and director of the Nevada State Climate Office.

"The University is interested in long-term monitoring of the weather and climate variables with the primary goal of observing changes in atmospheric winds, the associated high-elevation orographic-based precipitation, and the snowpack; the primary source of water for rivers, reservoirs, aquifers, agriculture, and millions of people in northern California and the east side of the Sierra Nevada."

Historical Weather Data Meets 21st Century
The Donner Summit area, where Sugar Bowl is located, has climate records that go back to the late 1800s and there are twice-daily records at the Sugar Bowl Ski Resort that go back for decades. It is one of the longest continuous ski resort snow-recording sites in the country, and the ski resort continues the record keeping.

The new weather stations are operated by an internet-based system that uses the University's AlertTahoe private high-speed microwave linked system that transmits real-time data, photos and video to scientists, public safety officials and Sugar Bowl's professional ski patrol.

The high-definition cameras have been installed at all three weather station locations at the resort. The mid-mountain station is at 7,558 foot elevation and the base station is at 6,978 foot elevation. These locations were selected in coordination with the Sugar Bowl Ski Patrol to best represent areas with snow across the entire resort to assist in decision-making for avalanche control and forecasting throughout the region.

"Sugar Bowl benefits from this partnership by gaining access to accurate real-time observations of weather and snow conditions that can assist with our operational decision-making and communications to our guests," Greg Dallas, president and CEO of Sugar Bowl Resort, said. "Science-based snow reporting also offers the most consistent and authentic data available. We intend to use it to be even more transparent as it relates to our daily snow reporting. We also appreciate the value it brings to our entire region as the University team and other organizations receiving this data study the impacts of climate change in the Sierra."

The partnership between the University and Sugar Bowl dates back to May 2014 when the University's climate office was granted a 10-year permit to conduct high-altitude climate monitoring within the privately held property of the Sugar Bowl Corporation along the Sierra Crest near Donner Summit. Part of the 10-year permit includes the opportunity for University faculty to take advantage of this high-elevation climate observation network for educational purposes.

"This project has, and will, continue to serve as an excellent outdoor laboratory for studying mountain weather and climate," Boyle said. "Since 2014, dozens of undergraduate and graduate students from the University have had the opportunity to visit and work with our weather sites at Sugar Bowl to learn about monitoring extreme weather and climate conditions. Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive."

High-Altitude Extreme Weather Monitoring
Since October 2016, the science team has been observing and recording air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, precipitation, snow depth, water content and snow surface temperature automatically at the three Sugar Bowl Resort sites. Automated precipitation sensors were installed this year and the installation of automated water content, snow depth, and net solar radiation sensors will be installed early this summer.

"Sugar Bowl has been an amazing partner and collaborator on this project," Boyle said. "Together, we have already learned a lot about the challenges associated with keeping these real-time observations available during extreme weather conditions, including transmitting microwave signals through 30- to 40-foot snow drifts, AC power outages, and heavy ice riming issues on the mountaintop equipment.

In spring of 2016, the climate office partnered with Graham Kent, a geosciences professor and the Nevada State Seismologist at the University of Nevada, Reno, to include these weather/climate sites at Sugar Bowl Resort in the Nevada Seismological Laboratory's multi-hazard monitoring and communications network that includes earthquakes, wildfire and extreme weather observations.

The state-of-the-art camera system, part of the AlertTahoe fire camera network, also provides real-time data, photos and video to first-responders, scientists, public safety officials and other interested parties, and offers the ski area access to weather-related data that assists with their avalanche forecasting and mitigation, and snow reporting accuracy. The University of Nevada, Reno's Nevada Climate Office installed, maintains and operates the equipment.

The wilderness internet network includes 25 fire cameras along the Sierra crest as far south as Mammoth Lakes and BLM lands in northern Nevada. Another 10 cameras have already been funded and slated for installation this spring and summer. The addition of the extreme weather observations in the network will provide much needed real-time weather information to better understand avalanche conditions in the Sierra, snow levels over mountain passes, and aviation conditions in the region.

For more information about Sugar Bowl Resort, visit www.sugarbowl.com, follow on Facebook or on Instagram @sugarbowlresort.

In the Photo: Nevada State Climatologist, Associate Professor Doug Boyle, and his graduate student Paul Fremeau inspect one of three extreme weather stations at the crest of the Sierra Nevada at the Sugar Bowl Resort. Photo courtesy of the University of Nevada, Reno.

Top Stories

... or see all stories

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called early Saturday evening to a vehicle that reportedly crashed into the garage of a residence in the 3700 block of Woodside Drive.

On June 6, 2020, Carson City Assistant Sheriff Daniel Gonzales graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. In a release provided by the FBI, 201 law enforcement officers graduated from the FBI National Academy.

After nine months of learning just about every aspect of what makes Carson City tick, 23 members of the Carson City Leadership Class of 2024 graduated on Thursday, June 13.

The Jazz & Beyond festival committee announces that the winner of the 2024 poster and program cover art contest is Carol Foldvary-Anderson. Her design, "More Than Just Jazz!" was selected from six entries to highlight the 21st annual Carson City music festival.

Join the Carson City Library for an author event that hits close to home with the release of Virginia City V. Bonanza: A Tale of Merging Histories, published by Rowman & Littlefield. Written by Monette Bebow-Reinhard, the discussion takes place Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Carson City Library, located at 900 N. Roop St., Carson City.

Attention film lovers and sci-fi film enthusiasts: Prepare to blast off into a world of imagination and creativity with Silver State Storyteller's Moon Rocks Sci-Fi Short Film Competition happening today at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City.

Carson City eateries will take to the streets at the center of the capital city today, Saturday, June 15 for the 30th Taste of Downtown, a long tradition to benefit the city's shelter for domestic violence victims.

The annual Stewart Father's Day Powwow at the former Stewart Indian Boarding School Campus in Carson City is underway, continuing through Sunday.

Lenny aka Tommy Two-Tone is a handsome long-haired orange kitty with a sweet face and silky soft fur. He likes people and once comfortable with you, he will purr with delight while you pet him.

After several years of set backs due to the economy, the Sierra Flats Affordable Housing project is finally opening with a ribbon cutting July 9, providing 80 new rent controlled units to the capital city.

There are two portions of the project, a building for seniors and a building for family and workforce housing, each containing 40 units.

UNR Extension Master Gardener Community Garden Talks

Join UNR Extension Master Gardeners of Carson City for a night in the garden.

Today is the last day of school, which brings on High School graduation across Lyon County. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office congratulates all of those that are graduating today, and wishes them the best as they enter the workforce, go off to college, join the military or any other adventure they choose to embark on.

A red flag warning has been issued by the national weather service for Friday, June 14 for much of western Nevada.

A major weather risk means the combination of gusty winds and low humidity could cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them, according to the weather service.

The Carson City School District reminds the community that all school offices within the district, with the exception of Carson High School, will be closed from June 17 to August 5. The Carson High School office will be open to help you from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Douglas County is pleased to announce important updates to parking regulations and options for visitors and residents enjoying Zephyr Cove Beach at Lake Tahoe this summer.

For the first time, "No Parking" signs will line both sides of Highway 50 in each direction from the new stoplight installed by the Nevada Department of Transportation at Warrior Way.

Two people have been found dead after the plane they were in crashed in Alpine County, south of Lake Tahoe. On June 13 at approximately 1 a.m., deputies from the Alpine County Sheriff's Office were notified of an overdue aircraft that had left Lodi, Calif. on Wednesday afternoon.

A sixteen-year-old Carson City resident is in custody following a gas station robbery Thursday night.

According to Sheriff Ken Furlong, the robbery occurred at an ExtraMile convenience store and involved a knife.

Here are the votes as of Tuesday, June 13 at 4:40 p.m.

The votes will not be finalized until all mail ballots have been counted. So far, the majority of ballots (5,720) were cast by mail, followed up by early voting (2,171) with the least amount of votes (1,842) cast on Election Day.

We will continue to update results as they come in.

Carson City author Michael K. Falciani, left, receives the ACES High Award from

We have a winner! Dragon Crown Books is pleased to announce that Carson City author Michael K. Falciani is the winner of the inaugural ACES High Award for outstanding contribution to The ACES Anthology 2023.

The Douglas County School Board selected Angelo “Frankie” Alvarado, a Ukiah, Calif. district administrator, as their next superintendent.

This is the third selection for a superintendent, the first of which was John Ramirez Jr., also of California, who had a history of DUI, sexual harassment, hit and run, mismanagement of district funds, and more.

A concert by The Sierra Sweethearts, a Chautauqua of Laura D. Fair, and local author Gregory Crouch are featured as part of the Dangberg Summer Festival in June.

Carson City Friday Family Fun Days is kicking off the 2024 summer season at Mills Park Friday, June 21.

Each Friday, event goers can find either live music or a community movie in the park along with a selection of food trucks. Kids actives include giant Jenga, giant 4-across, giant velcro kick darts, cornhole, bean bag skee ball, chicken fingers, and a selfie spot.

Our Pet of the Week is Tony.Tony is a ten-year-old taking on the world as a blind pup. This senior sweetheart is a great leash walker as he bravely explores new places using his other senses. He’s become quite the fan favorite in Reno and Carson City. This survivor hasn’t let his hurdles overwhelm his sweet personality. His tail is always wagging!

E. ROBINSON / CARSON HIGH SCHOOL AREA: Carson City Public Works will be performing water main flushing on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in the vicinity of Carson High School at East Robinson.

Join in for a day of fun, competition, and great food as Max Casino in Carson City hosts its 2nd annual hot dog eating contest.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit would like you all to join us in celebrating the life and experiences of K9 Ivo, who passed just a few days ago.

A pool-funded study led by the Nevada Department of Transportation recently received a Federal Highway Administration Environmental Excellence Award.

The Nevada National Guard will host its 26th annual Flag Day Ceremony and the U.S. Army’s 249th Birthday celebration at 10 a.m. this Friday, June 14, at the Veterans Memorial on the Capitol Grounds, 101 N. Carson St. in Carson City.

On Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m., historian and author Mark McLaughlin will return to Dangberg Historic Park to speak on Charles F. McGlashan who was an American writer, historian, journalist, educator, lawyer, amateur entomologist and astronomer.

Students at Western Nevada College performed exceptionally well in the classroom during the Spring 2024 semester.

In fact, 442 students have earned academic recognition for making the Dean’s List. The total number of academic achievers is only exceeded by the 487 students on the Fall 2023 Dean’s List and the 461 students on the Fall 2022 Dean’s List.