Thunder Mountain in the Sierra Nevada of California is located east of Silver Lake and west of Kirkwood Mountain Resort[3] in the Eldorado National Forest. The mountain has two peaks, the 9,414-foot (2,869 m) main peak[1] and a 9,412-foot (2,869 m) sub-peak west of the main peak.[4] The main summit is the highest point in Amador County.[1] Due to the high elevation, most precipitation that falls on Thunder Mountain consists of snow.[5]

Thunder Mountain
Southwest aspect, with Silver Lake
Highest point
Elevation	9,414 ft (2,869 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence	330 ft (101 m)[1]
Listing	California county high points 16th
Coordinates	38°40′27″N 120°05′27″W[2]
Geography
Thunder Mountain Location in California Show map of California Thunder Mountain Thunder Mountain (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Amador County, California, U.S.
Parent range	Sierra Nevada
Topo map	USGS Caples Lake

The peak was named by United States Forest Service personnel because "thunderstorms appear to build up in that area."[6]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Thunder Mountain is located in an alpine climate zone.[7] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range.

References

External links

• "Thunder Mountain (CA)". SummitPost.org.

This Amador County, California-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e