FORECAST 01-OCT-08

[dmatt]

FORECAST FOR THE OWENS VALLEY, MAMMOTH AND MONO COUNTY
PROVIDED BY DENNIS MATTINSON
EASTERN SIERRA WEATHER FORECASTER
KSRW 92.5 / 96.5 FM AND TV-33

WEDNESDAY, 01-OCT-08, 7:00 AM

I'VE BEEN HINTING AT A CHANGE IN OUR WEATHER SINCE LAST WEEK, SO HERE IS THE CURRENT SCENARIO. WE ARE BACK TO WARM TEMPERATURES TODAY WITH DRY CONDITIONS AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. THEN THE FIRST PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM OF THE SEASON WILL MOVE ONTO THE WEST COAST AND BEGIN TO COOL THINGS DOWN ON THURSDAY. THIS VIGOROUS SYSTEM WILL PUSH THROUGH OUR AREA LATER FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY BRINGING WITH IT ADDITIONAL COOLING AND THE CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS AND SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS. FOR OUR FORECAST AREA THE CHANCE OF SNOW EXISTS FOR THE HIGH COUNTRY STARTING ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON FROM MT. WHITNEY THROUGH MONO COUNTY. AS MUCH AS 6 - 12 INCHES OF SNOW COULD FALL OVER THE CREST BY SATURDAY. WINDS WILL ALSO BE AN ISSUE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH RIDGE TOP GUST TO 65 MPH BY FRIDAY. I MIGHT ADD THAT THIS IS THE KIND OF SYSTEM THAT COULD CATCH BACKCOUNRY HIKERS OFF GUARD; SO PLEASE BE PREPARED FOR WINTER LIKE CONDITIONS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY IF YOU ARE GOING IN.

TODAY FOR THE OWENS VALLEY: SUNNY SKIES. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR 87 FOLLOWED BY OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE UPPER 40S. SOUTHEAST WIND 10 - 15 MPH.

THURSDAY FOR THE OWENS VALLEY: MOSTLY SUNNY BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR 85 AND OVERNIGHT LOWS AROUND 46. SOUTH WIND 10 - 15 MPH GUSTING TO 23.

TODAY FOR THE TOWN OF MAMMOTH LAKES: MOSTLY SUNNY. DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR 69 AND EVENING LOWS AROUND 44. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 - 15 MPH GUSTING TO 20.

THURSDAY FOR THE TOWN OF MAMMOTH LAKES: MOSTLY SUNNY BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE AROUND 61 AND EVENING LOWS NEAR 43. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 - 20 MPH GUSTING TO 30.

TODAY FOR MONO COUNTY: SUNNY BLUE SKIES. HIGH DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM 73 - 83 AND EVENING LOWS 35 - 45. SOUTHEAST WIND 10 - 15 MPH.

THURSDAY FOR MONO COUNTY: PARTLY CLOUDY AND BREEZY. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM 67 - 77 AND OVERNIGHT LOWS 32 - 42. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 - 20 MPH GUSTING TO 35 WITH RIDGE TOP GUSTS TO 50.

NOTE: DENNIS' FORECAST ORIGINATES FROM THE FORT INDEPENDENCE EPA METEOROLOGICAL STATION. BECAUSE WEATHER CONDITIONS VARY GREATLY FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION IN THE EASTERN SIERRA, THIS FORECAST IS FOR A SPECIFIC AREA AND TIME FRAME.