Thursday, April 18th, 2024 @ 7:30 AM – Good morning, it’s a gorgeous spring week here in the Eastern Sierra. Mammoth Mountain is fully into spring conditions now with the mid and lower hill offering up firm and fast fun right out of the gate with the snow corning up by 10 AM. Up top there is a mix of spring snow and winter wind buff, with tons of fun to be had.
The snow line in the area is now up to the 7800 – 8000 foot level, giving you a chance to get in time and have some fun in and out of the snow. As the area settles into full spring mode, it will still be cool, with freezing nights in the high country. Make sure you’re prepared with layers and both winter and spring gear.
Travel & Road Forecast: Winter Roads are open and clear. Tioga, Sonora Pass, and the Mammoth Lakes Basin are closed for the Winter Season. For current webcam road conditions on 395 and 203, visit our road conditions page at this link.
Mammoth Mountain Weather Forecast
For today Thursday, expect clear skies with about average daytime temperatures around 50 at Main Lodge, low 60s in Mammoth Lakes, and upper 70s to 80 in Bishop. Today’s winds will be out of the southwest at 15 to 30+ mph over the higher elevations, with SW winds over the lower mountain at 5-10 MPH.
On Friday, a quick passing system will bring a 20-30% chance of snow and rain showers, with the snow level around 9000 to 10,000 feet. The wind flow will be out of the SW at 5-10 MPH with stronger gusts over the top. Overnight lows for the next couple of nights will be near freezing in the high country, with the upper 30s to lower 40s in the lower elevations. Down in Bishop, overnight lows will be in the mid- to upper 40s.
For the weekend, expect sunny skies with daytime temperatures around 50 at Main Lodge, low 60s in Mammoth Lakes, and upper 70s to 80 in Bishop. The wind forecast as the flow out of the SW at 10 to 2+ mph over the higher elevations, with winds of 5-10 MPH over the lower mountain.
For Snowman’s full Recreational Weather Forecast & Outlook, click here.
Mammoth Mountain Snow Report from the Snowman
4-18-24 – Up on Mammoth Mountain Spring Operations as now in effect. Here is what’s running into this Sunday, Lifts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 23 and Gondolas 1 and 2.
Canyon and Eagle Lodges and Lifts close for the season on Sunday, so next week lifts 8, 15, 16, and 17 will be added to the closed list. The Canyon Lodge parking area along with chair 17 will run the last weekend of April and then that will be it for this season.
Lift Hours through Sunday are from 8:30 AM to 4 PM, I would expect the mountain to start to adjust operating hours as soon as next Monday.
Snow Conditions: The snow is going to be flat, fast and firm to start out each morning this week. As the sunshine warms up the snow the lower and mid mountain runs should start to thaw around 9:30 to 10 AM.
The corn snow has come out for the lower and mid mountain runs, and with it not being to warm the snow is staying in fun shape right up till the end of the day.
Up Top, in several spots you will still find winter wind buff, but overall the snow pack is slowly converting over to a firmer spring snow pack. The snow does loosen up late morning and is good right up to closing, you just have to pick you line well for the softest surface.
The Spring Snow Base at the Snow Study Site (9000 Feet) is 91.3 inches, with 41.38 inches of seasonal precipitation and 350* inches of snow this season. Up Top, the base is around 150 inches, with 120 inches at MC Coy and 40-50 inches down at the Canyon Lodge and Little Eagle Lodge areas.
>>> IKON Discount Last Chance! (Until 4/18), you can renew your Ikon Pass at the lowest possible price. If you’re buying the Ikon Pass for the first time, you can start using it at Mammoth NOW. Here is the special Snowman link to get your Ikon Pass today.
Make sure to have your skis and snowboards waxed up at least every other day moving forward. Snowman uses a universal wax as you will encounter both such and firm snow during the month of April.
If you don’t have the tools to wax, You can get a FREE hot wax at Fast Ski Sports in the Vons Mall, just tell them the Snowman sent you.
I would also have them add some add some texture to your bases. This helps wet spring to move off your skis and boards better creating less of that sticky feeling you get in the spring snow season.
***Chair 1 is Now Closed for the Season. They will be replacing this old retrofitted Yan lift with a Brand New Chair that should open just in time for the holiday season 2024.
What’s up off the Mountain?
The current snow line in the Eastern Sierra is up to about 7500 – 8000 feet.
Below the 7500 foot level all forest roads and trails are now melted out and ready for hiking, mountain biking and 4 x 4 adventures. Lower Rock Creek Canyon Trail is perfect for those looking for a hike or mountain bike ride during these early spring days.
If you want to get into the full Spring zone, there is a lot to do in the Bishop area. The Disk Golf Course at Mill Pond and the Bishop Golf Course are open. Mountain Biking is also a blast right now, with all the trails and OHV areas in great shape from recent rains.
Fishing season opens county-wide on Saturday, April 27th, 2024. Crowley is over the top full, so beware, shore camping and fishing are out in some areas once again this spring.
Click here for a complete list of winter activities other than skiing and snowboarding on Mammoth Mountain.
Have a great day, Snowman Out…
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Mammoth Mountain Photo Snow Stoke from Snowman & Ryan Hurley
Website Author – Steve Taylor – Mammoth Snowman – Over the last 35+ years, Snowman has spent countless hours studying and learning about Mammoth Mountain Weather and Snow Conditions firsthand. He has been skiing around the hill with marked ski poles since March of 1991 so he can measure the fresh snowfall amounts out on the hill.
Snowman started blogging this information back in 1990 on the old Mammoth BBS system, then the RSN Forums, and then on to MammothSnowman.com in 2004 with the Video & Photo Blog report. (No YouTube back then). Facebook was added to the fold back in 2008 and then the Facebook Group in 2016.
Reports, videos, and photos from the website have been featured on both local TV Stations here in Mammoth, along with AP, Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC News. You can learn more about the MammothSnowman.com team here.
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