Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board WEATHER FORECAST 10/15/07

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE OWENS VALLEY AND MAMMOTH AREA
PROVIDED BY DENNIS MATTINSON
EASTERN SIERRA WEATHER FORECASTER
BROADCASTING ON THE SIERRAWAVE 92.5 / 96.5 FM

LAST UPDATE: 6:32 AM PDT OCT 15, 2007

THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE THAT BROUGHT US A BEAUTIFUL FALL SUNDAY WILL MOVE ON AS AN APPROACHING TROUGH, OVER OREGON THIS MORNING, WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST LATER TODAY AND LINGER OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH WEDNESDAY. MOST OF THE MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TROUGH WILL REMAIN TO OUR NORTH BUT THERE STILL IS A CHANCE OF ISOLATED RAIN IN THE VALLEYS AND SNOW SHOWERS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY FROM MAMMOTH NORTH.

TODAY FOR BISHOP AND THE OWENS VALLEY: MOSTLY CLEAR BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 74 AND LOW TEMPERATURES AROUND 37. SOUTHWEST WIND 13 - 19 MPH GUSTING TO 23.

TOMORROW FOR BISHOP AND THE OWENS VALLEY: PARTLY SUNNY SKIES. HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 70 AND LOW TEMPERATURES AROUND 39. NORTHWEST WIND 7 - 14 GUSTING TO 22 MPH.

TODAY FOR MAMMOTH AND THE MONO VALLEYS: PARTLY SUNNY BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. 30% CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON/EVENING. HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 50 FOR THE MAIN LODGE AND THE LOW 60S FOR THE VALLEYS. LOW TEMPERATURE RANGE 35 - 42. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 - 15 MPH GUSTING TO 25.

TOMORROW FOR MAMMOTH AND THE MONO VALLEYS: PARTLY CLOUDY BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. 30% CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS DURING THE DAY AND EVENING. HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 49 FOR THE MAIN LODGE AND THE UPPER 50S FOR THE VALLEYS. LOW TEMPERATURE RANGE 31 - 39. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 - 15 MPH GUSTING TO 30.

CONTINUED UNSETTLED WEATHER ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY THEN AN AMPLIFIED RIDGE BUILDS IN ON SATURDAY. RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE DRY CONDITIONS SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY.

Dennis, Can you please give me a general idea of weather conditions in late May, assuming a "normal" winter scenario? To complete a research project, I need to hike in the Onion Valley environs, as well as Cottonwood Lks. area. As a rule of thumb, given a year of average snowpack, can I expect the trails to be snow covered in late June? I'd much rather hike in the southern Sierra in early season if it's feasible. I'd appreciate the favor of a reply at your convenience. thanks, Sierra-Shar

These questions are more of a general board type, so I'll add my 2 cents...

Weather in late May is usually pretty good, but a late spring storm could come through, so you'll need to watch the forecast then.

In late June, both the Cottonwood Lakes and the Onion Valley trails should be free of snow, even with a heavy snow winter.

Every year is different here in the Eastern Sierra; just send me a request a few weeks or so before your trip and I will give you a "point forecast" for the period you need.

dmatt