High Sierra Topix

Owens Valley & High Country Forecast
Fort Independence EPA Met Station
EPA Site No: 06-027-1028
0755 PST 03 Nov 2006

All:

Discussion: Another shortwave set to arrive in our area today; timing of its arrival and how far south it will go is still in question. It could go as far south as Lone Pine and adjacent High Country. If so, expect snowline to be around 9,000 feet.

Today: The Owens Valley will have a 20% chance of rain in the late afternoon. The High Country will have a chance of isolated showers and light snow above 8,500 feet late afternoon. High country temps, low 50s / mid 20s with gusts SW +40 mph over the Crest. Owens Valley temps, upper 60s / low 30s with winds S 10 mph.

Tomorrow: Partly cloudy for both the Owens Valley and High Country. Owens Valley temps, upper 60s / mid 30s. High Country temps, upper 50s / mid 20s with winds W 10 mph.

Outlook: This weekend into Monday a weak ridge will develop to block any moisture from our area. Next trough due in early next week, Tuesday into Wednesday.

Dennis Mattinson
Air Quality & Forecast Specialist

Thank you Dennis again for your reports. It is pouring right now in Tahoe/Meyers at the 6300 feet elevation..it has been raining here for two days

madeintahoe:

No problem at all; you folks do get a lot of precipt, and this is just the begining.

So, it's supposed to be a mild El Niño year; are there predictions for lower-than-normal snowfall and high-than-normal rain out your way (I'm on the other coast, where we expect a slightly warmer, wetter winter)?

BSquared:

Current hemispheric pattern for the long range predicting a dry bias. So far that has been true here, but you never really know what will happen in the Eastern Sierra.

dmatt