Dec. 17-Dec.??: Sierra Nevada Mountain Snow

[Dean Baron]

With that Pacific low just sitting there pumping moisure on shore and with the orographic lift, some very impressive snowfall is occurring in the Sierra Nevadas. I've been watching and reading the winter storm warnings for a day or two now and I have to say that the amount of snow some of these places are getting in one night is more than I could even imagine from one, multi-day winter storm, with some places picking up 30-40 inches just overnight. Although this kind of snow is not unusual for this area, it is impressive nonetheless. The lastest HPC storm summary has some updated totals from California, with the heaviest snow now topping 100 inches, and two different places reporting wind gusts over 120mph. This is definitely something I would love to experience. Looks like these places will see at least a couple more days of heavy snow with storm total snowfall likely over 10ft in the higher elevations. Seems like most of the snow is occurring at elevations AOA 7000ft, and you have to get above 8000ft. to get the really ridiculous snowfalls. Click here for the latest HPC storm summary.

 

[Marko Korosec]

Looks like Mammoth Mountain received 123" of snow in the last 4 days which sets a new December record today; 155" of month's total.

http://www.mammothmountain.com/_ecomm/past.years.snowfall.cfm

 

[Dean Baron]

I also saw via HPC storm summary a report of a 164 mph wind gust a couple miles from Mammoth Lake, CA. I can't even imagine what that would be like (but would love to experience it).

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

If you want to see some real impressive snow accumulations, check out Alaska too. Used to live there many years ago. Snow drifts get to be several stories high - some sixty feet or more.

The amount of wet snow as opposed to the dry powder on the slopes of CA is changing for the better for those in my part of CA that seek to go skiing.

We had several inches of rain here on the West Coast around San Jose - and frightfully more on the hills to my West. Possible mudslides if more rain before a restbit. We are getting a break ATM; with more predicted tonight and later this week. Some small hail and weak thunderstorms are possible. Will be watching/reporting . . .

 

[Keith Wilson]

I heard it mentioned on tv that there is a slight risk of an isolated tornado or two in the SoCal/LA area tomorrow with more heavy rain.
Amazing series of storms.

 

[B Ozanne]

I also saw via HPC storm summary a report of a 164 mph wind gust a couple miles from Mammoth Lake, CA. I can't even imagine what that would be like (but would love to experience it).

I've felt 131mph on the summit of Mount Washington. I was clearing ice at the top of the tower. Wish I could add a description that wasn't cliche. It was really just an immense pressure over every surface exposed to the wind.

Somebody on TWC just said 19 feet somewhere in California. Anybody have photo links?