A weak AR has returned from the south this morning and is bringing Mammoth light snowfall. lower elevations have yet to mix out and so it is snowing at Mammoth AP at the moment. Once the winds kick in over the lower elevations of the county, snow should turn to rain later this AM along most of the highway 395 corridor with the exceptions of the higher summits like Deadman and Conway Summits. The snow level well on the west side of the sierra is already at 7500 feet at 6:00AM and so that warmer air should push east later this morning. This forecast is all dependent upon the winds today that are expected to mix down into the Mono County Valleys. As of 6:30AM it was 28 degrees at the Mammoth AP reporting light snowfall and Bridgport Valley at 20 degrees.

The Satellight loop that showed the weak AR that contributed to Mammoth Mt’s 2 to 2.5 feet of snow Thursday down into Southern CA yesterday, has lifted back north into Mono County this morning. This is currently bringing warm air advective precip to our region.  The freezing level along with a fairly saturated air will rise to 8000 feet later today and tonight. Snow fall will be heavy and wet this afternoon in town and especially tonight. Amounts in the Town of Mammoth will very between a foot and 2 feet by Sunday night depending upon elevations as most snowfall will occur above 8000 feet. The QPF with this storm will be between 2 and 4 inches of water over the weekend, between just west of the Sierra Crest and the TOML.

Colder air will return the freezing level Sunday into Sunday night into the lower elevations of the county, post cold front.

Mammoth Mt is in the Bullseye for QPF with this storm with the chance of a good 3 to 4 feet over the Summit.

The heaviest period of precipitation will be tonight Saturday into Sunday AM with the chance of snow showers lingering into Monday and possibly Tuesday. It will be quite cold next week with the Freezing Level down to 4000 feet by Monday night and remaining between 4000 and 5000 feet through Friday AM next week.  So daytime highs will be in the upper 20s and lower 30s in Mammoth. Lows at night will be in the 10 to 14 degree range.

Longer Range:

The Next Storm is expected about Friday the 9th.  The pattern shows a series of cold coastal sliders from the Gulf of Alaska via British Columbia digging south down the coast, bringing moderate amounts, (6-18 inches) of light fluffy snowfall. At the moment, there is not any subtropical or AR taps for these storms. They will be shots of snowfall over about a 12 hour period, as they are quick and progressive.  The following system would be Sunday night or Monday over a week away from now.

Of course because of the distance in time, this longer range outlook is subject to change.

Dr Howard and the Dweebs…..:-)