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Joined: Apr 2005
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FORECAST FOR THE OWENS VALLEY AND MAMMOTH AREA
PROVIDED BY DENNIS MATTINSON
EASTERN SIERRA WEATHER FORECASTER
BROADCASTING FOUR TIMES A DAY ON THE SIERRAWAVE 92.5 / 96.5 FM
LAST UPDATE: 8:18 AM PST JAN 04, 2008
THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF STORMS HAS PRETTY MUCH DIED OUT LEAVING LIGHT SNOW IN MAMMOTH AND THE HIGH COUNTRY. SOME 3 INCHES WAS RECORDED AT THE MOUNTAIN THIS MORNING. THE SECOND ONE IS A BEAST AND IS POISED TO MOVE ON THROUGH MIDDAY TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. THUS THE BLIZZARD WARNING IS STILL IN EFFECT UNTIL SATURDAY AT 10 AM. WITH THIS STORM BOTH WINDS AND SNOW FALL WILL INCREASE GREATLY OVER THE SIERRA SLOPES AND THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. GUSTS OF 150 MPH ARE EXPECTED OVER THE CREST WITH AS MUCH AS 5-6 FEET OF SNOW ON MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN. DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN MONO COUNTY WITH GUSTS OF 60 MPH OR MORE ACROSS THE HIGHWAYS AND WHITE OUT CONDITIONS. THE OWENS VALLEY CAN EXPECT RAIN TODAY WITH THE CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW ON THE FLOOR TONIGHT. WHILE THE WIDESPREAD SNOWFALL WILL DIMINISH BY SATURDAY MIDDAY, THE COLD POOL ALOFT WILL TRIGGER NUMEROUS RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. THEN ANOTHER SHORTWAVE MOVES IN SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY SPREADING RAIN AND SNOW THROUGH THE AREA. ONCE AGAIN THE OWENS VALLEY WILL SEE RAIN DURING THE DAY AND THE CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW ON THE VALLEY FLOOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WILL CONTINUE THE TREND OF UNSETTLED WEATHER WITH COLD CONDITIONS CONTINUING.
THOSE OF YOU PLANNING TRAVEL TO THE EASTERN SIERRA, SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST WEATHER STATEMENTS ON THESE DEVELOPING SYSTEMS AND COME PREPARED FOR EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS.
TODAY FOR BISHOP AND THE OWENS VALLEY: CLOUDY WITH A 60% CHANCE OF RAIN DURING THE DAY AND 90% IN THE EVENING. SNOW POSSIBLE TONIGHT WITH UP TO 2 INCHES ACCUMULATION. HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW 50S AND LOWS IN THE MID 20S. SOUTHWEST WIND 15 -30 MPH GUSTING TO 50.
TOMORROW FOR BISHOP AND THE OWENS VALLEY: CLOUDY WITH A 70% CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION DURING THE DAY AND A 50% CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW IN THE EVENING. SNOW LEVEL 4,500 FEET. HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 40S AND LOW TEMPERATURES AROUND 24. SOUTHEAST WIND 10 - 15 MPH.
TODAY FOR MAMMOTH LAKES AND THE MONO VALLEYS: PERIODS OF SNOW, HEAVY AT TIMES, THROUGH OUT THE DAY AND EVENING. VERY WINDY. CHANCE OF PRECIPT 100%. SNOW LEVEL 6,500 FEET. HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 32 FOR THE TOWN AND 40 FOR THE VALLEYS. LOW TEMPERATURE RANGE 23 - 32. SOUTH WIND 30 - 45 MPH GUSTING TO 70 IN TOWN WITH RIDGE TOP GUSTS TO 150.
TOMORROW FOR MAMMOTH LAKES AND THE MONO VALLEYS: MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH PERIODS OF SNOW. WINDY. CHANCE OF PRECIPT 100%. SNOW LEVEL 6,500 FEET. HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 26 FOR THE TOWN AND THE 34 FOR THE VALLEYS. LOW TEMPERATURE RANGE 22 -32. SOUTH WIND 35 - 45 MPH DECREASING TO 25 - 35 IN THE EVENING WITH SOME WIND GUSTS TO 55 IN TOWN AND 125 OVER THE CREST.
((NOTE: DENNIS' FORECAST ORIGINATES FROM THE FORT INDEPENDENCE EPA METEOROLOGICAL STATION AND IS FOR A SPECIFIC AREA AND TIME FRAME. FOR YOUR PLANNING PURPOSES, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDES THE MOST UPDATED AREA WIDE WEATHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE)).
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 39
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It is raining in Big Pine as I write this with low clouds down to about the 4500 ft level. It can't be stressed enough - USE COMMON SENSE when traveling. As I was reporting in Bishop last night for B watch people were fleeing Mammoth in droves - 100's of cars southbound on 395 - folks trying to get out before this big one hits. The Vons in Mammoth was almost out of food at one point and the one in Bishop was running out of groceries and CHP had to escort Vons trucks up the grade to restock the market in Mammoth.
This is NOT the time to go on a 'wilderness romp' unless you are a very highly skilled and trained mountaineer and even then - why risk it? I hope the people reading this board understand we (local SAR and LE agencies) pull a lot of dead bodies out of the Sierras this time of year - people who overestimated their expertise and skills in the wilderness. CHP is advising people to not travel if they do not have to. If this storm pans out to be as big as expected it will not be good weather for driving anywhere. Please again use common sense. Mt. Whitney will be there for you to climb another time in less inclement weather...ditto for the Whites - we had a lost couple up there day before yesterday....use common sense, stay safe.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 76
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That's correct, "use common sense", and most people are probably scared just by listing to the wind and rain. Most people, even once in the mountains (e.g. at some base camp), postpone or give up climbing even in not too tough conditions (which is smart). But this is winter time and most of these people don't even think about climbing, too unpredictable and too tough conditions. But there will always be people who see mountaineering as a great challenge, not just an adventure. Experiences with tough weather conditions are crucial for serious mountaineers. It is much safer to anticipate and practice bad weather conditions than to be unexpectedly stroke by nature's mood without even a clue what may happen next. However, if someone decides to anticipate such conditions, well... expect the worst, be aware and prepared.
By the way, I wonder what Team SurrealSummit.com would do. They are supposed to set their first camp at Whitney Portal today evening. Any info?
dmatt, thanks for your weather reports.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,391
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,391 |
Pouring down rain all along the OV right now: just drove from Bishop to LP and wind is also becoming a factor, as expected. Cloud deck is really low: right on top of Alabama Hills at the north end of town. Not even a great day for travel, much less try to head up. Be safe. -L 
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 337
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 337 |
Does anyone know if the Team SurrealSummit.com folks are still starting out today?
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 39
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I would hope they are not!!!!!
Yes bad conditions are needed to work in to prep for big climbs I realize...but remember when you get lost....you also put the lives of those of us who have to go out to find you and drag your sorry arses back in...on the line as well. And yes we get tired of finding guys out there who are just so in over their heads...it's pathetic.
Right now it is just ugly, ugly ugly out there, pouring down rain, sirens going off, wrecks and stalled vehicles all over. Stay home by the fire folks....the wind is really bad up here.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 54
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Joined: Dec 2006
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Just got this from Sue Burak at the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center in the mail this morning: A backcountry Avalanche warning has been issued for the eastern sierra backcountry from Sonora Pass to Mt. Whitney. two to Three feet of snow and over 3” of water have accumulated in the last 12 hours. Strong winds have created widespread areas of unstable snow and wind slabs particularly on north and west slopes above 8,000 feet. Avalanches are certain on most aspects and slope angles greater than 30 degrees. Avalanches will be large and destructive. Travel in avalanche terrain should be avoided. Stick to low angle terrain well away from avalanche path runouts. BOTTOM LINE: Avalanche danger is EXTREME on all aspects above 8,000 feet. Widespread and large natural avalanches are certain. Human triggered avalanches are certain. Avalanche terrain and runout zones should be avoided. I don't recall such a dire forecast since ESAC has been in existence. Speaking of ESAC, why not support them? I think they ask for $25 to email you avalanche forecasts 2-3 times per week. Of course, if you check their web site you can get the info for free, but why not give them a boost? With more support they could expand their forecast area to Whitney.
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