• Lassen Peak from Hat Creek

    Lassen Volcanic

    National Park California

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  • Road through the park is closed

    Park highway (HWY 89) is currently being cleared of snow, debris, and rocks. Anticipated opening for Memorial Weekend. More »

  • Park highway under construction near Sulphur Works

    Road crews are working to repair the road near Sulphur Works hydrothermal area. Road will be closed at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center during the week, and open to Sulphur Works on the weekends.

Got Lassen Peak Weather??

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Date: November 15, 2003
Contact: Lassen Volcanic National Park Information Desk, (530) 595-4444

For years you've been asking us for Lassen Peak weather. Well, now we've got it!

Until this year, collection of weather data in the Lassen Peak area was hampered by the fact that winter-time remoteness (up to fifty feet of snow, steep terrain, and narly weather make the spot accessible only by ski or helicopter) allowed volunteer ski patrols to collect data once a week at best when weather was mild. Conditions permitting, PG&E would also fly in once a month to determine snowpack and water content at the Lake Helen snow course.

This summer, National Park Service compliance and management teams worked with PG&E to find an appropriately low-impact and inconspicuous design and location for a new array of automated snow and weather sensors. The Lake Helen array now collects a variety of weather data that you can view 24 hours a day by going to the California Department of Water Resources' web site.

Lower Lassen Peak Station (LLP), Lake Helen, 8250' http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/staMeta?station_id=LLP Wind speed sensors are not yet working properly, so don't be surprised if you get some outrageous figures...

Upper Lassen Peak (ULP), Park Road Summit, 8500' http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/staMeta?station_id=ULP

Park Headquarters Station (MIN), Mineral, 4957' http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/staMeta?station_id=MIN

Manzanita Lake Stations, 5750'-6000' For satellite data: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/staMeta?station_id=MNZ 
For manual data collected by the NPS from 1950-present: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/staMeta?station_id=NMN 
For manual data collected by the NPS from 1936-1953: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/staMeta?station_id=OMN

Did You Know?

reddish color microscopic snow alage

The reddish color sometimes observed on top of snow at Lassen Volcanic NP snow is a living organism called snow algae.  When snow begins to thaw, these microscopic organisms spring to life.  They function as a primary food source and are being studied for their cancer-fighting properties.