12:3-Pm Update:

 

WX front has moved through and scattered snow showers are now expected the remainder of the day. Next and last wave moves in later tonight with a period of moderate snow returning……

 

The Storm began pretty much as expected early this morning. Snowfall rates were enhanced by a couple of 850mb/250MB couplets over the North Central Sierra and the other associated with a surface low near Bishop, Ca. The couplets are areas of vertical motion enhancing the precipitation process.

At the moment the hose is pointed at us….but precipitation rates should taper off within the next few hours. More showery weather is expected this afternoon instead of the steady heavy snow that was occurring mid morning.  It will also get colder as the day goes by as there is a lot of cold air behind the front.   Currently, accumulations are about a foot at McCoy Station as reported by Cliff Mann of Mammoth Mtn. More will pile up during the day and especially later tonight.

We could easily see another 6 to 10 inches more by morning over the crest as there is another feature that will come through late tonight bringing another 3 to 6 inches or so by Friday AM. That Vort max will be coming through in colder air so it will be drier with higher snow to water ratios. That should produce more snow from the system with less water.  Storm totals over the upper elevations will be between 15 and 24 inches by Friday AM. This has been revised upward about 6 inches from yesterdays discussion.

Mammoth remains on the cyclonic side of the upper jet that will be well to the south of Mammoth over the weekend. The following system that will affect Southern Ca will come though about Sunday night or Monday. The track is a little uncertain with the 12z ECMWF taking it a bit more east. Should that verify…Mammoth would benefit as we become under the influence of the deformation zone. The NE quad slips by late Sunday night or Monday AM. I will update in the morning to see if this is a new trend.

 

Otherwise, next week still looks pretty dry over all, but there are some interesting possibilities that weekend that I will be discussing next week…..

New 12Z Thursday ECMWF as pretty good storm breaking underneath blocking pattern over Bering Sea.  the EC is very wet with this storm bringing in over 2+ inches of QPF late in the weekend while the GFS is clueless at the moment….

 

Stay tuned….

 

It is slick out there so…..Slow Down……Drive Carefully>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

The Dweeber…………………………..:-)