FORECAST 20-JAN-09

[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

TUESDAY, 20-JAN-09, 7:10

LARGE SCALE, PERSISTENT RIDGE THAT'S BEEN GIVING OUR AREA DRY WEATHER AND ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES IS MOVING EAST INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS. AT THE SAME TIME, A CLOSED LOW IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC IN MOVING CLOSER TO THE CALIFORNIA COAST. THIS SYSTEM WILL HAVE A SOUTHERLY TRACK, THEREFORE WILL BE PICKING UP SOME SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE. I EXPECT THE SYSTEM TO ARRIVE IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRA AND BEGIN SPREADING NORTHWARD SOMETIME ON WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. SNOW LEVELS WILL REMAIN HIGH, IN THE 8,000 FOOT RANGE. THIS IS NOT A BIG SYSTEM, BUT WE SHOULD SEE SOME 6 INCHES IN THE UPPER ELEVATIONS, BUT NOT MUCH IN THE TOWN OF MAMMOTH. THE OWENS VALLEY SHOULD ALSO SEE SOME RAIN SHOWERS. THE SYSTEM MOVES OUT THURSDAY NIGHT WITH UNSETTLED WEATHER THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS ANOTHER SYSTEM ATTEMPTS TO MAKE LANDFALL ON SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY.

FOR THE OWENS VALLEY:

TODAY: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES WITH HIGHS NEAR 58. SOUTHEAST WIND LIGHT.
TONIGHT: MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH LOWS AROUND 33. SOUTHEAST WIND 3 - 5 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20% CHANCE OF RAIN. HIGHS AROUND 58. SOUTHEAST WIND 6 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: CLOUDY WITH A 40% CHANCE OF RAIN. EVENING LOWS NEAR 34. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 - 7 MPH.

FOR MAMMOTH LAKES:

TODAY: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES WITH HIGHS AROUND 44. CALM WIND.
TONIGHT: MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES. LOWS AROUND 29. SOUTH WIND 5 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: CLOUDY WITH A 60% CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS NEAR 43. SOUTH WIND 5 - 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: CLOUDY WITH A 80% CHANCE OF SNOW. EVENING LOWS NEAR 30. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 MPH.

FOR THE REST OF MONO COUNTY:

TODAY: PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 39 - 49. SOUTH WIND LIGHT.
TONIGHT: CLOUDY. LOWS 18 - 28. SOUTH WIND 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: CLOUDY WITH A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW. HIGHS 38 - 48. SOUTH WIND 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: CLOUDY WITH SNOW LIKELY. CHANCE OF SNOW 70%. LOWS 22 - 32. SOUTH WIND 10 MPH.

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 SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.