Spring Rite of Passage: Tioga Pass Prognosticator #11

[Mark Sedenquist]

I've traveled in an extreme thundersnow storm once. Lightning at night in the middle of a heavy snowstorm, on a steep mountain pass in a RV.... It was a bit intense. This was in Arizona and it was in the Airstream class A we were driving for the American Cancer Society and Megan had to stand over me with her hair blower on full blast because the defrosting system in the RV could not keep up with the fast developing ice crystals on the windshield.

Mark

[Utahtea]

I've traveled in an extreme thundersnow storm once. Lightning at night in the middle of a heavy snowstorm, on a steep mountain pass in a RV.... It was a bit intense. This was in Arizona and it was in the Airstream class A we were driving for the American Cancer Society and Megan had to stand over me with her hair blower on full blast because the defrosting system in the RV could not keep up with the fast developing ice crystals on the windshield.

Mark

Ever since I've heard that there was such a thing as Thundersnow I've wanted to experience it! BUT, I don't want to experience it while driving. Parked would be better! ;)

[Mark Sedenquist]

There's no snow yet falling in Yosemite valley -- Look at the live feed here at the Merced River


(Photo by David C. Stone) 12:35 pm PDT -- May 15, 2011

Live feed from the Ahwahnee Meadow -- that's fresh snow on Half Dome!

[glc]

Hmm - I-80 is closed both directions due to spinouts, chain law in effect. Chain law over Carson Pass, Monitor Pass is closed. Chain law on 120 to get into Yosemite. Chain law on 395.

[Southwest Dave]

I wish the Sentinel Dome camera was operational right now. Down in the valley floor it looks quite settled, but the severe weather warnings are for elevations up and over 6000feet.

Hadn't even heard of 'Thundersnow' before today's report. Sounds kind of exciting !

[Mark Sedenquist]

Picture this... Driving in heavy snow, about 10:00 pm.. Straining to see the road in the midst of near white-out conditions and all of a sudden lightning flashes...and all of those snowflakes reflect light right back into your face...

Night vision is disabled, all I could see were hundreds of swirling lines like one sees after a lightbulb flashes in your face and that's pretty exciting on a highway at night!

Mark

By the way, Kings Beach near the northern end of Lake Tahoe is reporting light snow, 25 degrees (feels like 19 degrees) No sunbathing up there today!

[Utahtea]

Picture this... Driving in heavy snow, about 10:00 pm.. Straining to see the road in the midst of near white-out conditions and all of a sudden lightning flashes...and all of those snowflakes reflect light right back into your face...

Night vision is disabled, all I could see were hundreds of swirling lines like one sees after a lightbulb flashes in your face and that's pretty exciting on a highway at night!

Mark

What the heck you doing driving at 10PM in a snow storm! ;) I want to experience sitting in the front seat of the RV thought my IMAX windshield....WHILE PARKED at a campsite or even better yet from my FIL's timeshare up in the Sierra mountains! LOL

DH hates to drive at night because he can't see the potholes, so as a rule we don't drive after dark.

Utahtea

[Southwest Dave]

Picture this... Driving in heavy snow, about 10:00 pm.. Straining to see the road in the midst of near white-out conditions and all of a sudden lightning flashes...and all of those snowflakes reflect light right back into your face...

Night vision is disabled, all I could see were hundreds of swirling lines like one sees after a lightbulb flashes in your face and that's pretty exciting on a highway at night!

Mark

Yep, that's the type of 'excitement' I was referring too, otherwise known as terrifying !

[Mark Sedenquist]

What the heck you doing driving at 10PM in a snow storm!

I was on assignment for a client and one doesn't let any weather affect that. I actually drove until about 1:30 that morning -- It was Christmas Eve and I needed to be in Pasadena the next day. Here's the inside scoop on that trip! Complete with the hair blower description! (Although in Megan's telling of the story, my memory about the time of night must be a bit off). Oh well...It was dark and stormy and snowing and there was lightning!

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

This was supposed to be near the start of the Pro bike race today....


(Photographer credit pending)