High Sierra Topix

fantastic

13.5 feet of snow at the Tioga Entry Station: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryF?TES

Very stoked for a good water year!! If it keeps up, Yose's plowing is going to take a bit longer this year.

Mammoth now has the 2nd highest Jan snow total since 1969. Right now it's around 130" inches, with the highest year hitting 162" in 1993. (Only 30" more inches to go, and Jan 2017 will set the record.) Also, during the 92-93 snow year, Oct-Dec had 125" inches, whereas Oct-Dec 2016 had 114".

So ... while we've seen March miracles, May reverse winters and other odd (to human perspective) weather patterns, we've also seen good starts which peter out. However, I'm guessing this trend will continue and we could end up with over 500" inches at Mammoth for the season. This correlates with other snow/rain/reservoir data, so if we reach those targets, I'd expect the drought will be declared over.

http://www.mammothmountain.com/winter/m ... nd-weather

So does this mean don't plan anything above 9K elevation until August? (for the snow averse that is)

If this remains at 150% of normal thru May then I would expect 10,000 ft passes in northern Yosemite, 11,000 ft passes in s. yosemite and the central Sierra to have some snow on August 1 and 12,000+ passes except possibly New Army to have snow thru at least August. In 2011 the last big snow year Tunemah Lake at 11131 feet was still 95% ice covered and mostly surrounded by snow in late july. In September of that year the cross country pass between Tower Lake and Mary lake was snow covered between Tower Lake and the top of the pass. The worst thing about mid and late summer snow are the huge suncups that form, sometimes more than 3 feet deep.

The worst thing about mid and late summer snow are the huge suncups that form, sometimes more than 3 feet deep.

But the wildflowers could be outstanding this year.

As will the Mosquitoes

Mammoth just updated their report to 142" inches for January so far today. And, by the look of things on the cams, it's still coming down hard. Btw, Mammoth only has to get 20" more inches in order surpass their old record of 162" inches for the month set in Jan, 1993.

PS There's another major storm projected for Wed-Fri next week, so this year could not only easily blow by the '93 Jan record, but perhaps also close in on 200" for the month.

Mammoth Visitor Center.