NOAA: Sierra Nevada, California Winter Storm Warning | Another 3-5 FEET for Most Ski Areas Sat-Mon

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Credit: NOAA

Brought to you by Mammoth Mountain

The NOAA has issued a winter storm warning for the southern Sierra Nevada mountains, and a winter storm watch for the Tahoe area, with most ski resorts expected to see 3-5 FEET of fresh snow from Saturday through Monday.

Mono County-
Including the cities of Bridgeport, Coleville, and Mammoth Lakes
659 PM PST Thu Nov 28 2019

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...

* CHANGES...Increased snow totals.

* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12
  inches below 7000 feet and 2 to 4 feet above 7000 feet
  possible.

* WHERE...Mono County.

* WHEN...From Saturday afternoon through Monday morning.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow will continue tonight with 1 to 3
  inches of accumulation in the lower elevations and 3 to 6 inches
  above 7500 feet.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The
  hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening
  commute.
california, winter storm, mammoth
The extended forecast for Mammoth Mountain. Credit: NOAA

Mammoth Mountain, who as of yesterday morning had already seen at least 45″ of fresh snow from this storm, can expect to see a further 10″ today, and then up to a further 3-FEET from Saturday afternoon through Monday.

...8 to 16 inches of snow forecast below
7000 feet with an eventual transition to rain likely on Sunday. 2
to 4 feet is possible above 7000 feet with winds gusting to around
50 mph.

This weekend’s storm could bring Mammoth’s weekly total to more than 7-FEET. As the first Californian resort to open, and struggling through a dry November, this storm is certainly most welcome, and long may it continue.

According to the resort, chairs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 17 and G1 (of course, this is weather permitting) are running, serving open runs Andy’s Double Gold, Apple Pie, Broadway, Fascination, Forest Trail, Jill’s Run, Main Park, Mambo, Over Easy, Patrolmen’s, Ralphie’s, Rusty’s, Sesame Street, St. Moritz & Terry’s Run.

Elsewhere, Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, and Sierra-at-Tahoe could all see up to 4 feet by Monday, and Bear Valley and Kirkwood in excess of 5-feet.

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Hourly weather data. Credit: NOAA

Temperatures will hover around the high 20s, but winds will be strong and gusty.

GEM 5-Day Snowfall Forecast Model

california, winter storm, mammoth
GEM 5-day snowfall forecast. Credit: Tropical Tidbits

Other Info

california, winter storm,
Credit: NWS Reno Nevada
california, winter storm,
Credit: NWS Reno Nevada
california, winter storm,
Current winter warnings. Credit: NOAA

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