High Sierra Topix

Owens Valley & High Sierra Forecast
Fort Independence EPA Met Station
EPA Site No: 06-027-1028
0816 PDT 19 Sep 2006

All:

Short Term…Smoke from the “Day” fire located in the Los Padres National Forest, has caused significant visibility issues through out the Owens Valley. This fire has been burning for nearly 2 weeks and has consumed more than 80,000 acres. The smoke from this fire will be visible today through sunset. A Pacific low pressure system will move across Northern Nevada this afternoon causing winds to pick up in both the Owens Valley and High Country. Winds will be in the 15-20 mph range with gusts to 30 in the Owens Valley. The High Country will see gusts to 35 mph by this afternoon. Otherwise, for the Owens Valley, skies will be mostly clear with daytime temps in the mid 80s and low in the mid 40s today and tomorrow. The High Country can expect afternoon temps in the mid 50s and evening temps in the mid 30s.

Long Term…Thursday through Sunday, another low pressure system will reach the Pacific Northwest and will affect our area on the weekend with cool temps and breezy conditions. Thus we will see slightly below normal daytime temps through this period with mostly clear skies.

Dennis Mattinson
Air Quality Specialist
Local Weather Forecast

Thank you Dennis.

Thanks again!

The smoke is pretty bad on the west side as well.

On a side note related to this fire, yesterday two backpackers near the summit of North Guard peak (a tad north of Mt. Brewer) flashed our helicopter with a signal mirror. The helicopter decended to investigate but could not land near the backpackers due to steep terrain. The backpackers waved their arms frantically and one pointed to the west and made what the helicopter pilot took as a choking sign. So, The Helibase contacted me, as I supervise this portion of the backcountry, and I began making preparations for a possible SAR/Medivac. I gathered a technical climbing team plus an NPS medic and stood by while the helicopter returned to Ash Mt. Helibase refueled and returned to the scene to try to land and get an better accessment of the situation. The helicopter was able to land near the southern most lake of the Sphinx Lakes group and a helitak crewmember was able to climb up the the backpackers.

Turned out all they wanted was to know what was up with the smoke. :retard:

I'm ready for winter.

Skibum- Oh good grief!! That is crazy. If I was that helitak crew member I might have choked the guy before I pushed him off the mountain!! whew.