The Morning Intel | Tahoe Sector Watch

Location: #HippieHaus | South Lake Tahoe, CA
Date: Friday, January 9, 2026
Time: 06:15 PST

¡Buenos días my friends,
Cup’O’Joe in hand, #StokeLevelSolid at 12, on a #FreakFlagFly’n Friday, upper Mtn East winds are honk’n, 135mph (Saffir-Simpson Hurricane scale - Cat3/4) last night atop KirkwoodMtn, cold temps, inverted, 9º here at the #HippieHaus, 21º at 9,100’… Dress in layers, stay warm, and get ready for a great day on the Mtn. Snow, wind affected, wind-loaded up top, wind-loaded.

Snow’s mid-winter shape, cold, on-piste is perfect, soft, carvable-schmoo. Off-piste, depending on elev:/aspect, wind-blown, playful, edgeable, and in some zones filled in for #Coldy-face-shots. Be aware of terrain traps, and tree-wells, YES, even at resorts. BC, Next SAC update is at 0700; check the latest (link below) before you head out today. Winds are creating Wind Slabs and other challenges, so check the latest, make the plan, and stick to it today. Forecast, sunny, with a high around 40º at lake level, upper mtn much cooler, with winds calming and a switch around 1300. With Upper Mtn Winds, be aware there may be some upper Mtn wind-holds, so be patient and have a ripping day, mìs amigos!

Current Sector Data (Verified @ 0615 PST)

Regional Temperatures:

• South Lake Tahoe (KTLV) at 6,308’: 9ºF

• Truckee (KTRK) at 5,899’: 7ºF

• Palisades - Siberia (8,700’): 14ºF

• Alpine Meadows (Scott Top 8,120’): 21ºF

• KirkwoodMtn Chair 6 (9,100’): 21ºF

• MammothMtn Summit (11,034’): 11ºF

Regional Winds (The Engine Room):

• HippieHaus: E 6mph

• Camp Rich: ESE 7mph

• Mid-Lake Buoy (NW): E 6mph

• Truckee: ESE 3mph

• Donner Pass: E 6mph

• Alpine Meadows (Mt Ward): SW 47/51mph

• Palisades (Siberia): E 22/31mph

• KirkwoodMtn (Chair 6): E 36/52mph (Honk’n)

• MammothMtn Summit: NNE 44/53mph

Roads (CalTrans @ 0601 PST):

• Status: Clear & Cold

• SR88: No traffic restrictions reported.

• HWY 50: No traffic restrictions reported.

• I-80: No traffic restrictions reported.

• Advisory: Watch for Black Ice due to refreezing snowmelt.

• QuickMap: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

Weather Ahead: The Ridge Returns

⚠️ Weather Advisories:

• None Active. All Winter Weather and Lake Wind Advisories have expired.

• Note: Freezing Fog (FZFG) is possible in Truckee/Martis Valley and Tahoe basins early this morning.

The NWS Deep Dive (REV vs. STO):
The storm cycle has exited stage right, and a dominant high-pressure ridge is building in. We are transitioning to a “Cold Morning / Sunny Day” pattern.

1. The Cold Start (Today):

• NWS Reno (REV): Warns of a “bitterly cold” commute. Sierra valleys are seeing single-digit and even sub-zero temps.

• Refreeze Risk: Yesterday’s snowmelt has likely turned to ice on untreated surfaces. Walkways and decks will be slick.

• NWS Sacramento (STO): Agrees on the cold, noting temps in the teens/20s above 4500’. North winds will gradually decrease through the evening.

2. The Ridge Build (The Weekend):

• Inversions: Both offices highlight “stout inversions” developing. This means haze in the urban valleys, but crystal-clear, warmer air in the higher elevations.

• Temperatures: Gradual warming to near average by the end of the weekend. Highs in the 40s at lake level, but it might actually feel warmer on the summits due to the inversion.

3. The Outlook (Next Week):

• Stagnant Pattern: High pressure parks over the West Coast. Expect dry weather, potential valley fog, and light winds through mid-January. #BluebirdDays are here.

Sierra Avalanche Centers

Central Sierra (Tahoe/Carson Pass):

• Status: Moderate (Pocket Specific)

• Issued: Thursday, Jan 8 (Expires: Friday, Jan 9 @ 4:00 AM).

• Author: Brandon Schwartz

• The Bottom Line: You could trigger an avalanche today in places where wind-drifted snow has filled in near ridgetops and gully features. The hazard is localized but real. Move cautiously around blowing snow areas.

• Link: Sierra Avalanche Center Forecast

Eastside Region (Mammoth):

• Status: Wind Slab Hazard

• Issued: Thursday, Jan 8 (Expires: Friday, Jan 9 @ 7:00 AM).

• Author: Greg Cunningham

• The Bottom Line: Strong winds from all directions (swirling) have created fresh, reactive wind slabs. You may find these on all aspects today as winds shift. Largest slabs are in alpine terrain.

• Link: Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center Forecast

✈️ Aviation Section

Current Status: VFR (Local FZFG)

• Conditions: Generally VFR. The main concern is Freezing Fog (FZFG) and IFR/LIFR conditions at KTRK, KTVL, and KMMH during the overnight/early morning hours.

• Winds: Strong north winds aloft (15-20 kts sustained, gusts 25-30 kts) will gradually decrease after 00Z Friday (4 PM today).

⚓ Tahoe Mariners Forecast

Advisory: None. (Lake Wind Advisory Expired).

• Today: Partly cloudy -> Clearing. Light winds. Highs 34-40. Waves < 1 foot.

• Tonight: Clear. Light winds. Lows 5-15 (Chilly!). Waves < 1 foot.

• Saturday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Highs 38-43.

• Water Temp: 44.7ºF.

The Bottom Line: The “Freak Flag” winds ripped last night, rearranging the furniture on the upper mountain. Today is a day for tactical skiing—hunt the wind-buff, avoid the scoured patches, and enjoy the sunshine. It’s cold, crisp, and clear—the perfect setup for a ripping Friday on the hill.

Stay’nThirsty for POW,

Coop | RS#69