Mammoth Mountain
Snowman Report
Featuring Daily Snow, Weather, Travel, FAQ, Community & Adventure
May 13th, 2026 @ 8 AM – Nothing like May in the Eastern Sierra, with so much to do and not many people around. Today looks like a great day to get out and play with clear skies this morning.
My advice is to get out for some turns this morning and enjoy the fresh, groomed spring snowpack. At noon, bail the hill, get some lunch in town, and then venture out for a second adventure.
Mammoth Weather Forecast: Expect a few buildups today, with very isolated showers mainly south of the Mammoth Lakes region.
Midday temperatures at Main Lodge will be in the mid-60s today, with upper-60s expected on Thursday and Friday. Overnight lows will be in the mid-40s by Wednesday night, then lower a bit each night. There is a chance of a light freeze-up on Top this weekend.
Winds will be light and variable, out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph with gusts on Friday in the 30 – 40 mph range.
For my full forecast and discussion, use this link.
Travel Update: Roads are open and clear. Here is the link to the current highway webcams.
Mammoth Snow Report: Spring conditions will be firm and fast snow to start the day. Expect the snow to loosen fast on the groomers with the warm temperatures in the area.
The last few days, the snow has gone from firm to perfect to a slush-fest fast; get out there early for some carving, then break out a fresh waxed pair of fat skies for the corn and thick slush you get by mid-morning.
Up Top, the snow gets soft quickly, and you will find some good turns first on the Cornice bowl, and then the Drop Outs and Climax are the bomb.
Over on the Face of Three, the West Bowl Bump line is going off by late morning, nothing like a sweet line of bumps to pound over and over again.
Current base depths are running 1 to 2 feet at Main Lodge, 2 to 4 feet at McCoy Station, and 5 to 8 feet across the upper mountain.
Lifts scheduled to run: 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 11, 23, and Gondola 1 & 2. Lift hours 7:30 to 2 PM.
If you plan to ski and ride into Memorial Day, make sure to have your gear prepped for spring riding; both Footloose Sports and Fast Ski Sports can take care of that for you. Ignoring the surface of your skis will result in big-time bogging down in the slush.
Ski ya later,
Snowman
PS: You Can Still Get 20% off Ski and Board Rentals at Black Tie Ski Rentals. Here is the Snowman discount link.
What’s Up Eastern Sierra
5-13-26 – We have been having gorgeous days from Mammoth Lakes down to Bishop. The weather has warmed, with early-summer-like days in the region. Mammoth Lakes has been in the 70s, while Bishop has been in the lower 90s.
While the nightly freezes are gone, you will still find nice cool mornings in all areas. Personally, I’ve been out walking with my dog at 5:30 AM as it’s totally light now. Early morning hikes and mountain bike rides are also on now that the freezing weather is over.
This is a great time of year to come up for a visit. You can ski and ride in the morning, then pick up an adventure after lunch.
Nothing like a morning ski and then heading up into the Lakes Basin for lunch and a walk around Lake Mary.
Here are some ideas of what to do after you get off the hill.
Online Mammoth Mountain Community
Want a safe spot to talk snow, share tips, or ask questions? Our Private Facebook Group is a friendly gathering place with 21,000+ people who love Mammoth just like you — all built on respect and no-drama conversations.
Mammoth Snowman FAQ
1. When does Mammoth Mountain usually open and close for the season?
The Friday of Veterans Day is always the preset opening day. Mammoth will open earlier if they get 2-3 feet of early-season base snow. Most years, you can ski or ride till Memorial Day, with most seasons going into June and even July. Mammoth has made it into August 3 times. Here is the link to the past opening and closing days.
2. How often do you update snow and weather reports?
We post fresh snow, weather, and mountain condition updates several times a week — daily during storm cycles and peak winter months (November to March).
3. What makes MammothSnowman.com different from the official resort site?
We’re locals sharing real conditions, photos, and reports without the marketing gloss. No fluff — just what’s actually happening on the hill. With that said, we work directly, with permission from Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and Alltera.
4. Where can I find your detailed Weather Forecast & Discussions?
Our Mammoth Mountain Weather page provides all the details you need on the weather. No automated AI forecasts, just 40 years of local weather knowledge. Here is the link.
5. Do you cover summer activities like biking and hiking, too?
Yes. When the snow melts, we switch gears with mountain bike trail reports, hiking guides, and summer weather coverage.
6. Who’s behind MammothSnowman.com?
I’m Steve Taylor, a longtime Mammoth local known as “The Snowman,” and I’ve been running this site since the Fall of 2004. Here is my full Bio.
7. How can I support the site and community?
Join as a supporter, grab a shirt, or share our reports. Every bit keeps the cameras rolling and the updates flowing. Here is the link to our Keep the Website Alive page.
Author: Steve Taylor, The Mammoth Snowman. For over 30 years, Snowman has meticulously studied Mammoth Mountain’s weather and snow conditions. Since March 1991, he’s used marked ski poles to measure fresh snowfall across the mountain.
He began sharing his insights in 1990 on the Mammoth BBS system, later moving to RSN Forums, and launching MammothSnowman.com in 2004 with a video and photo blog (pre-YouTube). Read his full bio here.