Today's rainstorm is actually washing away some of the needed snowpack!
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l_15-02-22.jpg
Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy
(Captured at 1:54 pm PST on February 22nd)
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Today's rainstorm is actually washing away some of the needed snowpack!
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l_15-02-22.jpg
Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy
(Captured at 1:54 pm PST on February 22nd)
A little snow in the forecast but nothing significant. The winter Rangers report bare patches of pavement on Tioga and ski and weather conditions more indicative of May ! See below.
At the moment it seems to be following in last years footsteps [or even dryer] which was the second driest season since 1980 with only 33% of average snowpack. Best do the snow dance !!Quote:
New snow: none
Total settled snow depth: 6 inches as of February 18, 2015 (at 8,600 feet)
High temperature: 63°F (February 12)
Low temperature: 22°F (February 16)
Skiing Conditions and Weather: The ski conditions and weather were quite good this week. That is, if you prefer warm, sunny, calm days and you are fortunate enough to be skiing above 9,500 feet. The ski conditions, snowpack, and weather are more indicative of mid-May than mid-February. We recorded two days over 60°F this week and the other five days were in the mid 50s. While at Cathedral Lakes today, a gaggle of geese flew by heading north! What season is this anyway? The Tioga Road is still mostly snow covered from the park boundary at Tioga Pass to Olmsted Point, although there are patches of pavement. Visitors have reported that the snowline on the east side starts at Ellery Lake and below that it is mostly dry pavement. A bicycle might be a good idea to reach snowline if approaching from the east. The snow is saturated and has gone through enough melt-freeze cycles to produce good corn snow in most places (most places where there is still snow, that is).
Dave.
It's worth noting that there are 5 roads that are usually closed for the winter are currently open:
Monitor Pass
June Lake Loop
Mammoth Lakes
Bodie
CA-120 east of Lee Vining
Another gorgeous day in Yosemite -- but a scary little amount of snow around...
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l_02_24_15.jpg
Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy
(Captured at 10:45 am PST on February 24th)
There is a Winter weather advisory in p!ace from 4pm Friday to 10 pm Saturday with up to 6 inches of snow accumulation possible. If you are travelling in or around the Sierra's then keep an eye on weather and road conditions. Be safe.
Dave
I am guessing April 30 at noon
Gorgeous late afternoon light on this first day of daylight savings time in 2015:
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l_03-08_15.jpg
Captured at about 6:30 pm PDT
(Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy)
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...03-08_15_b.jpg
Captured at about 7:15 pm PDT
(Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy)
Absolutely beautiful. But should that not all be buried below some feet of snow? I recall arriving in March only a few years ago when the Sierras were one spectacular white diamond sparkling in the sun.
Lifey
This is how it looked on February 18, 2011:
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/photo...8_Yosemite.jpg
February 7, 2014
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...inel_02_07.jpg
Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy
March 2, 2014
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l_03_02_14.jpg
Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Conservancy
(photo: March 2nd at 12:30 pm PST)
And March 8, 2013:
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...l_03_08-13.jpg
It's scary just how dry it is, especially following on from last years snowfall, or lack of ! A bit of snow up in Tuolumne Meadows but I believe Badger Pass ski area is still closed due to the lack of the white stuff. No sign of significant snowfall in the forecast but I am sure they will all be praying for some late and plentiful snow.
Some extracts from reports from the Mono Lake comittee.
Quote:
And what about the Sierra Nevada snowpack? Statewide it’s currently the lowest in history, sitting at 17% of average for April 1.
Quote:
California just logged its warmest winter in history by the widest margin in history. December 2014 through February 2015 hosted average temperatures soaring 5.9°F above the long-term mean. This record increase topped the previous record gain by 1.5°F.
Dave.