Christmas weather is coming to the Sierra in a big way as NOAA just announced a Winter Storm Warning from 10am on Friday till 4pm on Saturday.
State of the Backcountry 2016-2017: Tahoe and the Eastern Sierra
Right now, forecasts have snowfall totals in the eastern Sierra ranging from 12-30″ of accumulation by Saturday afternoon (*LOOK OUT MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN). Tahoe should see smaller accumulation totals but areas of near Lassen Peak along with Mammoth Mountain will see surplus snowfall that will be measured in feet– not inches.
“Model solutions continue to highlight rain rapidly changing to snow Friday after sunset and continuing through Saturday. Be prepared for winter driving conditions and allow plenty of extra time to reach your destination.” – NWS Reno
South Lake Tahoe and Truckee are forecasted to receive over a foot of snow from this storm!
Winter Storm Warning (Mammoth)
MONO COUNTY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF BRIDGEPORT AND MAMMOTH LAKES 1217 PM PST WED DEC 21 2016
…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 4 PM PST SATURDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 4 PM PST SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
* TIMING: SNOW WILL MOVE INTO MONO COUNTY BY MIDDAY FRIDAY WITH A PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW FRIDAY EVENING INTO SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 15 TO 30 INCHES ABOVE 7000 FEET WITH 10 TO 18 INCHES FOR COMMUNITIES ALONG HIGHWAY 395.
* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH. SIERRA RIDGE GUSTS UP TO 100 MPH.
* SNOW LEVELS: STARTING 7000 FEET ON FRIDAY, THEN FALLING BELOW 5000 FEET BY FRIDAY EVENING.
* IMPACTS: VERY POOR VISIBILITY WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS LIKELY. DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FOR BACK COUNTRY ACTIVITIES AND TRAVEL ALONG HIGHWAY 395.