Winter Storm Watch hoisted from the NWS beginning Thursday afternoon for 1 to 2 feet above 7000ft.

The Mammoth Crest still looks to get up to 3 feet by Saturday AM.

The first system is taking its good ol sweet time coming in….Strong high pressure to the west of us is both delaying the onset of the system as well as tightening up the gradients for some strong southerly winds for the Owens Valley today.  Expect snowfall to begin in earnest after about Midnight tonight and then best mid morning through early afternoon with Showers the rest of the day. Local streets are warm and snowfall on local streets with the snow level at 7000 may not be an issue with this 1st system. Latest QPF form CRFC 1.02 with Freezing level at 6500 ft. so 6 to 12 inches looks good over the upper elevations……9000+ by Thursday Morning.

There is another area of moisture that effects the sierra Thursday in the moist westerly flow. New QPF for CRFC is .75 for just west of the crest by Friday AM. Freezing levels down to 5800 Ft. Another 5 to 8 inches possible over the upper elevations…..

Then during the day Friday the main upper jet comes into Paso Robles, Ca with good divergence/upper diffluence. Heavy Snowfall is expected by Mid/Late Friday Morning through the afternoon then decreasing Friday night.  Saturday looks like possible snow showers with little accumulation and Cold.  500-1000mb thickness drop to 534DM over the Ca, Central Valley early Saturday.

The Dweebs are still expecting a good 2 to 3 feet total over the upper elevations by Saturday AM.

The Dweebs have been watching the longer term……For the Month of April…… it may be that this next series of storms considering intensity/cold and amount snowfall, will be the last of the season.  That is not to say that we will not get any more snowfall. But the storms may be considerable smaller. Mammoth usually gets one decent system in early to mid may.

The Dweeber………:-)

PS

The sun is spotless as the sun approaches the Solar Maxium…..what gives?

http://www.landscheidt.info/?q=node/50

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Disclaimer: I have been a hobbyist meteorologist for over 30 years here in the Mammoth area and I do this for my personal enjoyment. The National Weather Service saves lives every day . . . I do not. When making important planning decisions please use information provided by the National Weather Service as they are the most knowledgeable and accurate information source available today.