Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Dry Winter and Thunderstorms in the Summer

Any ideas on whether the exceptionally dry winter will have any effect on the incidence and characteristics of thunderstorms in the summer? Thanks.

The hot weather will melt the polar ice caps and inundate Mt Whitney by July 4th.

sorry, couldn't resist.

Thanks H, In case that happens maybe I can summit by kayak and snorkel and use a crayon instead of a pen for signing the register.

Anyhow, I thought that less stored ground water to evaporate might mean less cumulus, cumulonimbus, and fewer and milder thunderstorms. Just a guess.

Do I have to take a full life jacket on Whitney hikes in summer now? Or would those little floats that toddlers wear on their uppper arms offer enough protection?

Alan, just pork up, put on the 'cellulite', it floats..............

You may be correct technically, but I just know the rangers are going to start enforcing a life jacket rule.

Wait'll you see the specs on the floatable wag bags.

The following graphic shows the long range percipitation forecast for the entire USA. It was valid from Jan. thru March and has not been updated for April.

The graphic indicates there is an Equal Chance for normal, above normal or below normal percipitation in lower California. In other words, they don't know.

<a href="http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/lead04/off04_prcp.gif">NOAA Long Range Forecast</a>

"there is an Equal Chance for normal, above normal or below normal percipitation in lower California. In other words, they don't know"

Well, at least they know for sure that the precipitation will normal, above normal, or below normal.

OMG, STOP! You guys are killing me. Harvey: I'd love to ride the surf off of Whitney in an outrigger canoe. It'd be like that spot 100 miles east of San Diego where the current rides over the underwater mountain!

-L

Glad to see that the $ Billions that we spend for people, computers and satellites at the National Weather Service are being put to good use so that we can know that the precipitation will be either normal, above or below normal.

As for the dry winter/dry ground leading to fewer/milder summer T-storms, the answer is no, it should not have much effect. T-storms in the sierras are generally driven by the sun heating warm, moist, unstable air coming in (usually) from the west. However, the current El Nino pattern could change the number of T storms in the summer (to either normal, above or below average).

HikerLaura, The Cortes Banks

Thanks, Bob! I was totally visualizing the scenes from "Step Into Liquid" but couldn't remember the name!

-L

HIKER LAURA, you wouldn't be spacially/directionally challenged would you? 100 miles East of San Diego (I live in San Diego County) is a favorite area of mine, but only in the cool part of the year. Sand Surfing is no fun when it's 110 degs................steve

Well, I was going to hold off, but I suppose it is time to announce my new sailing program, with docks atop Whitney! I've been working furiously on putting together my expert crew (Sarah), cross-trained in sailing and rock climbing
(Thankfully, the knot part is the same!!)

We'll set sail for the summit from 14,500 feet above Los Angeles, and sail NNE for Whitney.

May the winds be at your back!

I'm recruiting for an assistant guide...uhh, skipper.....Richard?

Nice catch, Pass! Yeah, I meant west. Scary part is, I'm actually good at directions, even if I say them wrong! :-0

-L

Summertime thunderstorms in the Sierra Nevada(and the rest of the Southwest) usually occur when the mid- and upper-level winds in the atmosphere switch to the south and southeast. This transports moisture from the Gulf of California, from Mexico, and occasionally from the Gulf of Mexico. This is known as the summer monsoon. Normally, this happens in the Sierra by early to mid-July.

During the summer, mid- and upper-level wind from the west or southwest over California is a dry wind.

During the late spring and early summer (before the summer monsoon begins), melting snow may be a moisture source for clouds/thunderstorms in the Sierra.