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Sierra Nevada Holiday Storm Events

Srain

By Srain,
in Weather Forecasting and Discussion

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Southland Wx

Southland Wx

Posted
Posted

Steve, Thanks for sharing those. Great images, and frankly, the 12-20" in the mountains east of me is concerning if it verifies, as there are already debris flows and flooding issues in that area from today's rain.

Closing in on 5" now event total IMBY. Puddles growing, but no serious problems in the immediate LA area from what I can gather..some minor flooding below the Station Fire burn scar (the massive one that occurred in Aug/Sep 2009).

CNN iReport video from La Crescenta: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-530723?hpt=T2 This isn't that bad, but it's only going to get worse.

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Southland Wx

Southland Wx

Posted
Posted

27" yesterday @ Mammoth. Up to 12.5' at the summit since Friday:

http://www.mammothmo...ammoth/#weather

Today's Report

Updated 8am on 12/120/2010

If you dream about fresh tracks and powder runs, live that dream by enjoying anywhere from knee deep to chest deep powder! This storm system is nothing short of amazing! Since Friday, the storm total is 8 1/2 feet to 12 1/2 feet of snow! Mammoth received 27” of snow in the last 24 hrs and is expecting at least another 1-2 feet throughout today. This storm is only 5 inches of snow away from being the snowiest December ever recorded since 1969 when Mammoth first started recording! Mammoth has also just been named to having the most snow in all of North America! Take extra precautions if driving up to and around Mammoth as visibility is low.

Snow base depth is 9.5ft-15ft with fresh powder, packed powder, and machine groomed conditions. The 8am temp at Main Lodge is 18 degrees with 8 mph winds, at the top it’s 10 degrees with 34 mph winds.

All lifts are expected to operate today, wind and weather permitting, except for Chairs 3, 5, 9, 12, 13, 14, 20, 23, 25, and The Upper Panorama Gondola.

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Southland Wx

Southland Wx

Posted
Posted

Is the 15' at the top of the mountain official? If so, it would seem that it will soon break the US record for a single storm:

Mount Shasta Ski Bowl, California

U. S. single storm snowfall record: 189 inches (15.75 feet) February 13 – 19, 1959 3

I don't know what standards they use for measuring at Mammoth, but according some people I work with that are familiar with some of it, they do apparently do it properly. Up to 13.5' now at the summit... 9' at the base. 134" for December as of 1 PM, a new record for the month. I suspect they end up with at least 2-4' more, which would mean roughly 11-17.5' from Friday (Dec 17)-Wednesday (Dec 22)....if we can count this as one storm (technically I don't know if you can, but at the same time, I don't know that it has really stopped snowing there at all since Friday). So yes, this record may be in jeopardy.

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Southland Wx

Southland Wx

Posted
Posted

Area to watch in SoCal:

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV

251 PM PST MON DEC 20 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...

SOUTH CENTRAL SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA...

* UNTIL 845 PM PST

* AT 245 PM PST...THE MORONGO VALLEY FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED MINOR

STREET FLOODING WAS ALREADY OCCURRING. MODERATE TO HEAVIER RAIN

WILL BE MOVING INTO THE AREA OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AND THIS

WILL WORSEN EXISTING FLOODING CONDITIONS. BE ESPECIALLY ALERT

DURING THE EVENING COMMUTE FOR WATER POTENTIALLY COLLECTING IN LOW

WATER CROSSINGS AS WELL AS ROCKS AND OTHER DEBRIS WASHING ONTO

ROADS.

* THE STORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT MORONGO

VALLEY...LANDERS AND YUCCA VALLEY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL

WILL CAUSE FAST RISING WATER AND FLASH FLOODING OF WASHES...DRAINAGE

AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND LOW WATER CROSSINGS. WHEN FLASH

FLOODING IS OBSERVED...MOVE QUICKLY TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD

WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS

RISING. IT ONLY TAKES 18 INCHES OF SWIFTLY MOVING WATER TO SWEEP A

VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD...AND LESS THAN SIX INCHES OF SWIFTLY MOVING

WATER TO SWEEP A PERSON OFF THEIR FEET.

NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.

FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. WHEN YOU APPROACH

FLOOD WATERS MAKE THE SMART DECISION...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN!

REPORT FLOODING TO YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE OR LAW

ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL

WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN LAS VEGAS.

--------------------------------------------

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV

200 PM PST MON DEC 20 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAS VEGAS HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...

NORTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA...

THIS INCLUDES THE LOCATIONS OF...DAGGETT...BARSTOW...

* UNTIL 800 PM PST

* AT 155 PM PST...RADAR SHOWED MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN MOVING INTO

THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY. FORT IRWIN

OFFICIALS REPORTED ROADS ONTO AND OFF THEIR PROPERTY WERE STILL

FLOODED AND WITH ADDITIONAL RAIN MOVING IN THIS MAY WORSEN

EXISTING FLOODING OR CAUSE NEW AREAS TO FLOOD.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO DUMONT

DUNES AND TRONA

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL

WILL CAUSE FAST RISING WATER AND FLASH FLOODING OF WASHES...DRAINAGE

AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND LOW WATER CROSSINGS. WHEN FLASH

FLOODING IS OBSERVED...MOVE QUICKLY TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD

WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS

RISING. IT ONLY TAKES 18 INCHES OF SWIFTLY MOVING WATER TO SWEEP A

VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD...AND LESS THAN SIX INCHES OF SWIFTLY MOVING

WATER TO SWEEP A PERSON OFF THEIR FEET.

NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.

FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. WHEN YOU APPROACH

FLOOD WATERS MAKE THE SMART DECISION...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN!

REPORT FLOODING TO YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE OR LAW

ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL

WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN LAS VEGAS.

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Southland Wx

Southland Wx

Posted
Posted

Models started yesterday to indicate that the heaviest rain for a time would shift south toward Orange and San Diego Counties. These are areas that have only had 1-3" so far, so should we end up just showery with ~ 0.75" the next 24 hours, that will help in LA County, which has seen 3-6" in the lowlands and 5-10"+ in the mountains. The one good thing about this system I guess is that it's spreading the love throughout the whole state....except apparently the Sierra, which just get hit regardless of anything.

Edit: Of course, there after, the NAM dumps 1-3" additional on LA County areas, so it may just be a brief lull. Also appears to drop another 1-3' on Mammoth between now and the end of the event. Other intriguing area to watch is the pcp-max over SW UT/just NE of Vegas (5"+ shown).

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LakeEffectKing

LakeEffectKing

Posted
Posted

Models started yesterday to indicate that the heaviest rain for a time would shift south toward Orange and San Diego Counties. These are areas that have only had 1-3" so far, so should we end up just showery with ~ 0.75" the next 24 hours, that will help in LA County, which has seen 3-6" in the lowlands and 5-10"+ in the mountains. The one good thing about this system I guess is that it's spreading the love throughout the whole state....except apparently the Sierra, which just get hit regardless of anything.

Edit: Of course, there after, the NAM dumps 1-3" additional on LA County areas, so it may just be a brief lull. Also appears to drop another 1-3' on Mammoth between now and the end of the event. Other intriguing area to watch is the pcp-max over SW UT/just NE of Vegas (5"+ shown).

So much for the traditional ENSO correlations! :arrowhead:

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Southland Wx

Southland Wx

Posted
Posted

So much for the traditional ENSO correlations! :arrowhead:

Not thus far, but if you look at some of the strong-mod Nina analogs, there is a propensity for slightly wetter than normal autumns even this far south. But it drops off substantially in Jan-Feb. So this may be our last hurrah so to speak this far south. That said, we'll be running probably around 80% of seasonal normal (for a whole season) when this ends.

It's actually interesting..if you look at precip anomalies this year compared to a bunch of Ninas, the patterns are almost dead on nationally, but exaggerated....drier in some of the climatologically driest areas, wetter in the wettest areas.

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nzucker

nzucker

Posted
Posted

Not thus far, but if you look at some of the strong-mod Nina analogs, there is a propensity for slightly wetter than normal autumns even this far south. But it drops off substantially in Jan-Feb. So this may be our last hurrah so to speak this far south. That said, we'll be running probably around 80% of seasonal normal (for a whole season) when this ends.

It's actually interesting..if you look at precip anomalies this year compared to a bunch of Ninas, the patterns are almost dead on nationally, but exaggerated....drier in some of the climatologically driest areas, wetter in the wettest areas.

California may get lucky this year since the strong high-latitude blocking is forcing the typical ULL over the Pacific, seen frequently in La Niña regimes, further south than normal. That could give the state above average precipitation. I also think we'll get a very deep -PNA later in the winter with storminess for the region as the East begins to warm up after a frigid December and near average January.

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Southland Wx

Southland Wx

Posted
Posted

From Mammoth this morning:

Mammoth has clear skies at the moment making for an outstanding day of blue sky powder skiing! Mammoth has been named by skiinfo.com for having the most snow for any ski resort in the world! We have also broken the December record for most snowfall! Since Friday, the storm total is 10.5 feet to 15 1/2 feet of snow. The snow is absolutely unbelievable and it will surely be a white Christmas. Take some of the most epic powder runs you have ever had in anywhere from knee deep to chest deep snow!

Snow base depth is 10.5ft-16ft with fresh powder, packed powder, and machine groomed conditions. The 8am temp at Main Lodge is 20 degrees with 12 mph winds, at the top it’s 13 degrees with 35 mph winds.

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Cheeznado

Cheeznado

Posted
Posted

Check out some of the estimated totals-

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CA

318 PM PST TUE DEC 21 2010

..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...

..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

..REMARKS..

0900 AM HEAVY SNOW TUOLUMNE MEADOWS 37.87N 119.36W

12/20/2010 M66.0 INCH TUOLUMNE CA PARK/FOREST SRVC

PARK OFFICIALS REPORTED STORM TOTAL AS OF MONDAY MORNING

12/20...NO REPORTS AVAILABLE SINCE THEN. ALSO REPORTED

SEVERAL SMALL ROCK SLIDES AROUND THE PARK.

0700 AM HEAVY SNOW GRANT GROVE 36.74N 118.96W

12/21/2010 M32.0 INCH FRESNO CA PARK/FOREST SRVC

STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL SINCE FRIDAY 12/17

0700 AM HEAVY SNOW LODGEPOLE 36.60N 118.73W

12/21/2010 M60.0 INCH TULARE CA PARK/FOREST SRVC

STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL SINCE FRIDAY 12/17

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW 10 N YOSEMITE VALLEY 37.88N 119.60W

12/21/2010 E68.0 INCH TUOLUMNE CA MESONET

WHITE WOLF ELEV 8000 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW CHAGOOPA PLATEAU SNOTEL 36.50N 118.44W

12/21/2010 E120 INCH TULARE CA MESONET

9400 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW WEST WOODCHUCK MEADOW S 37.03N 118.92W

12/21/2010 E192 INCH FRESNO CA MESONET

9100 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW 5 E TUOLUMNE MEADOWS 37.87N 119.26W

12/21/2010 E108 INCH TUOLUMNE CA MESONET

DANA MEADOWS 9800 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW PASCOES SNOTEL 35.97N 118.35W

12/21/2010 E204 INCH TULARE CA MESONET

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW KAISER POINT SNOTEL 37.30N 119.10W

12/21/2010 E168 INCH FRESNO CA MESONET

9100 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW HUNTINGTON LAKE 37.23N 119.24W

12/21/2010 E70.0 INCH FRESNO CA MESONET

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW WET MEADOWS SNOTEL 36.35N 118.57W

12/21/2010 E191 INCH TULARE CA MESONET

9000 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW BISHOP PASS SNOTEL 37.10N 118.56W

12/21/2010 E195 INCH FRESNO CA MESONET

11200 FT

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SP

SP

Posted
Posted

Sierra snows.....experienced a 9-10ft BASE in Tahoe City......14-18ft+ as you entered Squaw. It was like driving in a tunnel with VERY limited ability to look left for oncoming traffic. One night there was 3ft in Tahoe city by the lake where I had a cabin.

Front loaders and snow throwers where running 24/7 for 3 days.

This storm appears to be simply amazing....off the chart.

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baroclinic_instability

baroclinic_instability

Posted
Posted

Check out some of the estimated totals-

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CA

318 PM PST TUE DEC 21 2010

..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...

..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

..REMARKS..

0900 AM HEAVY SNOW TUOLUMNE MEADOWS 37.87N 119.36W

12/20/2010 M66.0 INCH TUOLUMNE CA PARK/FOREST SRVC

PARK OFFICIALS REPORTED STORM TOTAL AS OF MONDAY MORNING

12/20...NO REPORTS AVAILABLE SINCE THEN. ALSO REPORTED

SEVERAL SMALL ROCK SLIDES AROUND THE PARK.

0700 AM HEAVY SNOW GRANT GROVE 36.74N 118.96W

12/21/2010 M32.0 INCH FRESNO CA PARK/FOREST SRVC

STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL SINCE FRIDAY 12/17

0700 AM HEAVY SNOW LODGEPOLE 36.60N 118.73W

12/21/2010 M60.0 INCH TULARE CA PARK/FOREST SRVC

STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL SINCE FRIDAY 12/17

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW 10 N YOSEMITE VALLEY 37.88N 119.60W

12/21/2010 E68.0 INCH TUOLUMNE CA MESONET

WHITE WOLF ELEV 8000 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW CHAGOOPA PLATEAU SNOTEL 36.50N 118.44W

12/21/2010 E120 INCH TULARE CA MESONET

9400 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW WEST WOODCHUCK MEADOW S 37.03N 118.92W

12/21/2010 E192 INCH FRESNO CA MESONET

9100 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW 5 E TUOLUMNE MEADOWS 37.87N 119.26W

12/21/2010 E108 INCH TUOLUMNE CA MESONET

DANA MEADOWS 9800 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW PASCOES SNOTEL 35.97N 118.35W

12/21/2010 E204 INCH TULARE CA MESONET

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW KAISER POINT SNOTEL 37.30N 119.10W

12/21/2010 E168 INCH FRESNO CA MESONET

9100 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW HUNTINGTON LAKE 37.23N 119.24W

12/21/2010 E70.0 INCH FRESNO CA MESONET

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW WET MEADOWS SNOTEL 36.35N 118.57W

12/21/2010 E191 INCH TULARE CA MESONET

9000 FT

1000 AM HEAVY SNOW BISHOP PASS SNOTEL 37.10N 118.56W

12/21/2010 E195 INCH FRESNO CA MESONET

11200 FT

Insanity. 18+ feet of snow? Another system coming in, prolly will drop another 1-2 feet on top near the crest.

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aslkahuna

aslkahuna

Posted
Posted

Interesting to see that 204" report. So does this qualify as the heaviest snow storm in the U.S.? Who makes that decision?

Usually NWS does after a review though being a mesonet observation it may not meet the criteria for a record. Could also be a World record for a single storm but that's up to WMO.

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