High Sierra Topix

Would like to hear how members prepare for there up coming trips when it comes to
the weather.

1. You just go without checking the weather, and deal with happens.( Hope nobody
does this one).

2. You check the NWS site to see if anything is coming in for the first few days or
check the board at the ranger stations.

3. You do the above, and also check the long range forecast online.


4. You do all of the above, also check the local forecast (like Mammoth), also
check the weather patterns that may possibly effect you a couple or several
days in (like a hurricane off the coast of Baja).

What are you favorite resources when it comes to predicting the weather for your
trips? If your are a little more involved with this the the average backpacker please
share how you go about gathering your 411.

I check Dennis Mattinsons forecast for the Eastern Sierra here

+1 on Dennis' reports.. and the webcams.. Still, when you see the dragon's breath on the water, you know you're in for it, regardless of the forecast.

I usually do as much as I can. That includes All of the Above, webcams, etc.

Here are some links I've been using:

http://www.sierravisionsstock.com/cams.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=CAZ096" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/centra ... ther-radar" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/southe ... nteractive" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/sequoi ... st/2258473" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.findlocalweather.com/forecas ... &Submit=GO" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.findlocalweather.com/forecas ... &Submit=GO" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.weatherforyou.com/reports/in ... code=93262" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.weatherforyou.com/reports/in ... et+Weather" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.easternsierraforecast.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; has now been added, as well. (Thanks, snusmumriken.)

Also remember the old adage, "Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky in the morning, sailor takes warning". This actually does have some basis in reality. http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries ... ailor.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Never number 1. I see no wisdom in hauling around heavy 4 season gear during an extended fair weather pattern. I focus on precipitation forecasts, and patterns.

I start with a 14 day outlook for rain. This map is an easy to view statistical summary of several models and will demonstrate a rain "bullseye" and trend.
http://wxmaps.org/pix/prec1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As I get closer to the intended trip days, I start to hone in on the details with FNMOC. This product shows maps from 2 different models that can be completely at odds with each other.
https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/wxmap_cgi/cg ... 06&set=All" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I always go the Dweebs in Mammoth and their weather links to the NWS Reno forecast discussion for the Eastern Sierra.
http://mammothweather.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Then, there is always the fringe forecasters out there who really focus on telling us when a monsoon is going to kick in. He's on my Facebook feed.
http://www.southerncaliforniaweatheraut ... /scwa.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When everything seems muddled, I go to KARNAC for clarity and advice because even after all of the above, "weather happens"
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4079/4824 ... 4f13_o.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have gone out without checking the weather a few times, and when I was under 25 there was no weather checking! But now most of my trips are spur of the moment because of the nature of my work, and I sometimes forget.

Back before the internet, there was no weather checking anything beforehand. Especially when I was doing extended road trips. There was no way for me to know what was happening in the ranges out of my area (that I knew of) and I never worried about that...hell sometimes I didn't know where I was going when I hit the road. I don't think I have ever hit the trail without asking about the weather at the ranger station. Warm bag and warm jacket, I still carry those to this day.

Now, with the internet I do check 90% of the time. I would fall under category four. I have never canceled a trip because of weather, but I have changed the location. But being 4 hours from sequoia and 7 from Yosemite, a lot can happen! I have been surprised! One trip I "forgot" my poncho and "forgot" to check the weather. Beautiful on the east side below the crest, but not so much over the crest. I figured it was going to rain every day, my wind jacket wet out, it was foggy and lightning was really close, but I couldnt tell how close. That scared me, and I bailed when the lightnig moved on.

I remember getting caught in weather I was unprepared for only 3 times. One of those I checked weather forecasts and something really unusual popped up on mt. san jacinto. Another was a hurricane off baja in i think 1999, I was in AZ.

The monsoons that go down in AZ are pretty impressive

I check everything I can! But I do long trips (10-16 days or more) and the long term forecasts are quite inaacurate, so I bring what is needed for foul weather. More imporantly, I always plan escape routes if the weather does turn poor.

I use the source, i.e., NWS, directly.

Start with a point forecast. For example Tuolumne Meadows point forecast. Click on "Hourly Weather Graph" for up to 6 days forecast. One can select another point of interest in the interactive map on the right.

To gauge the outlooks and uncertainties, read the Area Forecast Discussion. Each of the four County Warning Areas that cover Sierra has its own discussion.

• Sacramento
• San Joaquin Valley
• Reno
• Las Vegas

The discussions cover time frame of about 7-8 days ahead, and often give early heads-up about upcoming systems.

Rain radars are useful only right before trip.

For longer range Climate Prediction Center forecasts may be useful.

Finally... there is talk of a monsoon intrusion into southeastern California sometime between the 4th and 15th of July. Everything east of the Sierra is baking into oblivion now, so a good monsoon surge seems reasonable as the west coast trough backs off and the high pressure expands west out of Texas. Anyone predicting intensity yet? As they always say, "it bears watching".

http://wxmaps.org/pix/prec1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I check the sites like everyone else, at least to an extent. On short trips, rain is pretty easy to predict.I did miss the high winds in the Sierra the weekend of June 22nd, and changed a 3 day trip in Sabrina Basin to just 2 days. So it would be interesting to me to know if any members saw that coming, and where they got the info. I always carry a lightweight tent, raingear, etc; I have seen enough snow and cold weather thru the years.For me, it is not an option to be unprepared.