Tuesday the 16th:

There were a few snow showers around overnight but nothing measurable. Main effect of this short wave will be the beginnings of a pattern change that will bring cooling, gusty winds over the crest and the flattening and displacement of the upper west coast ridge. Today’s highs will be in the mid 40s, more typical of what January should be like.

The mean ridge position now over the inter mountain west will shift even further east to the Central US by Friday.  This get’s accomplished by a strong upper jet with upstream amplification behind it, diving south through California by Friday.  It will be this upper jet with cold Gulf of AK air that pushes though Central CA Thursday night into Friday. The Air Mass is too modified for Platinum Powder,  but will bring over all, higher than normal Snow to Water ratios by Friday Morning. This storm has a down slope signature, so expect a very windy Thursday afternoon and night. There may be travel restriction’s for high-profile travel trailers during this time. Main Snowfall will occur Thursday night into Friday AM with snow showers Friday afternoon. Daytime highs in Mammoth will cool to the upper 20s by Friday and remain through Saturday. Night time lows are expected in the teens.  The upper jet remains over the Eastern Pacific into CA from this Thursday though the following Thursday. This means that Mammoth will be in for a windy period, more often on than off.  The folowing storm will be Sunday night. However, at this time, the models differ on where to place the axis of the upper jet. That location will influence how much snow will fall.

 

More Later……………..

 

Dr Howard and the Dweebs………………………:-)

 

 

8:30AM Monday…MLK DAY

Forecast models came in a little dryer this morning with the Thursday Night- Friday system, as the “AR” is trending more on the weak side than moderate. Nevertheless, this system still has the capability to bring 12 to 18 inches of snow, over the upper elevations and 6 to 9 inches in town by Friday night.  This system will finish cold with freezing levels down to around 3500 feet Friday afternoon, then lowering to 2200 feet by Saturday AM  Highs on Friday will be in the upper 20s with lows in the teens.  There will be gusty winds Thursday into Friday afternoon.  It will be a chilly weekend with gusty winds over the upper elevations with another weather system expected Sunday night into the following Monday.

 

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Confidence continues to increase for a significant snowstorm to reach Mammoth by Thursday morning with strongest portion Thursday night into Friday AM. This system has an AR connection that is regarded as light to moderate and coincides with a jet stream that supports the system dynamically.  Although this system has some very cold air with it, the storm will not meet the platinum powder criteria of a foot of snow at a snow to water ration of 15:1.  The snow level will begin at an elevation of about 7000 feet but will crash to the Mono County valley floor Friday. the Freezing Level Friday afternoon will be 2300 feet!  However, by then, only snow showers will be occurring… Looks like a storm capable of 18+ inches by Friday night on Mammoth Mountain. Amounts should be between 6  to 10 inches in town.

 

The next following weekend looks unsettled with a chance of snow showers. The following storm for the Monday and Tuesday the 22nd and 23rd  the following week is dubious at this time due to model difference….

 

The Dweeber…………………..:-)