Brought to you by Howard Sheckter
Atmospheric River now Showing up off shore…Moisture to really increase Friday ahead of Heavy Snowfall Saturday AM…..
Thursday January 28, 2016
High Wind watches have been hoisted by the NWS for Friday and Friday Night as the nose of a 170 Knot upper jet makes its way east into the Sierra. Snow levels will begin high as the Freezing level reaches 10K Friday. The snow level will likely be about 9,000 Friday/Night then gradually lower late in the evening toward 8K by Midnight. Outside of wind and rain, no travel problems are expected Friday evening due to snow along the highway 395 corridor south through Inyo County…… With that said, winds will likely be an issue for high profile vehicles Coming up the Owens Valley Friday afternoon and especially Friday night…..Down Sloping winds are expected, 35 to 50 MPH with gusts over 70 MPH possible.
Rain/Snow Mix in town will switch to snow around midnight and will be all Snow at resort levels by Sunrise Saturday with the snow level down to 6000 feet during the afternoon and even lower that night. Eventually the snow level will fall to the valley floor of the Owners valley by Sunday night, however most of the storm will be over by then…
Snowfall amounts will be tricky in Mammoth as part of the storm will be either rain or rain snow mix. Odds are good that at least a foot will fall in the upper elevations or west of the village and 2 to 3 feet over the crest by Sunday night.