12-18" of snow forecast for Sonora Pass by Saturday. 8-12" forecast for Tioga Pass. image: noaa, today — 12-18″ of snow forecast for Sonora Pass by Saturday. 8-12″ forecast for Tioga Pass. image: noaa, today

NOAA is calling for big snow above 8,000-feet this week in California’s central Sierra Nevada.

The above forecast map shows snow forecasts of:

12-18″ for Sonora Pass (currently closed)
8-12″ for Tioga Pass (currently closed)
3-4″ for Mammoth Lakes

NOAA is currently forecasting 2-6″ of snow for Mammoth Mountain ski resort by Saturday.

When Mammoth gets a couple of inches with wind, the skiing gets amazing – just like it did last week when they got 3″. See photo below:

Miles in the perfect snow in lower Hangman's on April 29th. photo: snowbrains — Miles in the perfect snow in lower Hangman’s on April 29th. photo: snowbrains

MAMMOTH FORECAST:

Mammoth Mountain ski resort forecast showing 3-6" of snow by Saturday. image: noaa, today — Mammoth Mountain ski resort forecast showing 3-6″ of snow by Saturday. image: noaa, today

“Significant precipitation and some thunderstorms WED-SAT…

The main change since yesterday’s forecast is that snow levels look higher…so any snowfall impacts now look limited to the higher passes (above 8000 ft). Thunderstorms look strongest Wednesday and Thursday…with large amounts of small hail and frequent lightning possible.” – NOAA Reno, NV today