WEATHER FORECAST 08/14/07

[dmatt]

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE OWENS VALLEY AND MAMMOTH AREA
PROVIDED BY DENNIS MATTINSON
EASTERN SIERRA WEATHER FORECASTER
BROADCASTING ON THE SIERRAWAVE 92.5 / 96.5 FM

LAST UPDATE: 7:26 AM PDT AUG 14, 2007

AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN U.S AND AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. THIS WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES ON THE WARM SIDE FOR BOTH THE HIGH COUNTRY AND THE OWENS VALLEY FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. SOME MOISTURE IS BEING SENT UP FROM NORTHERN MEXICO AND WE COULD SEE SOME CUMULUS BUILD UP OVER THE CREST WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY INTO THURSDAY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE HAZE AND SMOKE IN SOME AREAS OF THE HIGH COUNTRY AND OWENS VALLEY FROM THE "ZACA" FIRE LOCATED IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AND THE "TAR" FIRE LOCATED IN FRESNO COUNTY.

TODAY FOR BISHOP AND THE OWENS VALLEY: MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING WITH SOME CUMULUS OVER THE CREST IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 101 AND EVENING LOWS IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTH WIND 12 - 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 IN THE AFTERNOON.

WEDNESDAY FOR BISHOP AND THE OWENS VALLEY: MOSTLY SUNNY BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 100 AND LOWS IN THE UPPER 50S. LIGHT WIND BECOMING SOUTH 10 - 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 IN THE AFTERNOON.

TODAY FOR THE MAMMOTH AREA: SUNNY SKIES BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW 80S FOR THE MAIN LODGE AND LOW 90S FOR THE MONO VALLEYS. LOW TEMPERATURE RANGE 43 - 53. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 - 15 IN THE AFTERNOON.

WEDNESDAY FOR THE MAMMOTH AREA: PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW 80S FOR THE MAIN LODGE AND LOW 90S FOR THE MONO VALLEYS. LOW TEMPERATURE RANGE 43 - 53. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 - 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

THE CHANCE OF LIMITED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY REDUCES BY FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND, AS A DRY SOUTHWEST FLOW STRENGTHENS OVER OUR AREA. VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN OUR WEATHER IS EXPECTED INTO THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK WITH LITTLE POSSIBILITY OF PRECIPITATION, LIMITED CLOUD COVER AND TEMPERATURES NEAR NORMAL.

[Bob]

I am going backpacking from Thousand Island Lake to Yosemite Valley in mid-September, so elevations from 4,000 to 11,000 feet. Are temperatures typically from the 30's to 70's for that time and elevation?

[dmatt]

Bob:

Lets talk about the highest elevations; from 10K - 11K feet NOW you will find temps running in the 30s at nite and the 60s during the day; so, in mid Sept (about a month away) take off at least 5 degress or so. Thats the best estimate I can do for now...

dmatt

[Bob]

Thank you for the quick and definite response. Much appreciated. Sounds like we could even get snowed upon at the highest elevation.

[dmatt]

Typically the highest elevation is most often the thing you worry about most when it comes to weather; and yes there is always a chance of snow up there.