Tioga Pass Prognosticator #14

And that storm could be arriving sooner rather than later ! A Pacific storm front is heading this way and could bring rain, high winds and snow to the higher elevations. It's exact path and intensity is not yet known, but there is an early 'Hazardous weather warning' in place from the National weather service.

Quote:

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Special Weather Statement
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
445 AM PDT THU OCT 18 2012

CAZ089>099-182345-
WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS-
TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS-KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-
SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT-
445 AM PDT THU OCT 18 2012

...COOLER WITH RAIN AND HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW NEXT WEEK...

AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WITH ABOVE AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES...A BIG CHANGE IS IN STORE WITH COOLER AND
POTENTIALLY WET WEATHER EARLY NEXT WEEK. HIGH PRESSURE CURRENTLY
DOMINATING THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA WEATHER WILL BEGIN TO BREAK DOWN
AND SHIFT EAST THIS WEEKEND AS A PACIFIC STORM APPROACHES FROM THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

THE STORM SYSTEM ORIGINATING FROM THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL MOVE
THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THIS WEEKEND...THAN DROP SOUTH OVER
CALIFORNIA BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. THIS STORM IS EXPECTED TO BRING
CLOUDY SKIES...RAIN...STRONG WINDS AND HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW TO
THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA. THE EXACT TRACK AND PRECIPITATION
AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM ARE STILL UNCERTAIN...HOWEVER
IT IS LIKELY THAT MOST AREAS WILL RECEIVE AT LEAST SOME PRECIPITATION.


$$


WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD

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The snow has hit - as of right now Ebbetts, Monitor, Sonora, and Tioga are closed, and I-80, US-50, and CA-88 require chains.

Wow, I could be an "almost" winner if this was really a closure now!

Maybe a good omen for a wet winter? I sure hope so.

Mark

I think it's a bit early to be thinking of a permanent closure, but who knows ? With snowfall of just 3-7 inches predicted and then clearing up again Thursday we should see it open again, although the sub zero temps may have a say in that.

The YNP website states that it is a temporary closure so they are planning to reopen road. this storm is several weeks later than the one which closed passes in early October last year. Snow prevented my boys from completing their Badwater (Death Valley) to Whitney summit triip which they did this year at the end of Sept in dry, warm weather.

Jessica

Tioga and Glacier Point are reopened, Ebbetts, Sonora, and Monitor are still closed.

It looks as though a settled few days are ahead for Yosemite, yet on the Yosemite site they are currently advising you call ahead with regards to the status of Tioga pass.

Dave.

It should be fine for a while. The status has been "call" for the past several days. Ebbetts and Sonora were closed for a few days, but have been reopened.

It's quite often overnight and early mornings when there is a possibility of ice that the temporary closures occur even in the clearest of conditions until the sun sets to work on it. It looks wonderful up there at the moment and is forecasted to stay that way for several days.

The status is now listed as 'Open'.

There is a hazardous weather warning in place for later this week as the bulk of a low pressure storm moves into central California and snow is expected above 3500 feet.

From the weather service.

Quote:

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RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ARE LIKELY FROM FRESNO COUNTY NORTH WITH
THIS SYSTEM...BUT PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL TAPER OFF RAPIDLY
SOUTH INTO KERN COUNTY. SNOW LEVELS WILL FALL TO NEAR 3500 FEET
FRIDAY...WITH SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FROM 4 TO 6 INCHES IN THE
SOUTHERN SIERRA FROM KINGS CANYON TO YOSEMITE.

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It looks as though it may blow through leaving clear conditions for Veterans Day.

Dave.