Friday, April 12th, 2024 @  8 AM – Good morning. Today is looking spring-like, with cloudy skies in the area as the ridge of high pressure that has brought spring conditions exits to our east.

Winds will pick up today ahead of the next low-pressure system, which will bring clouds, snow, and gusty winds tonight into early Sunday morning.

That system is looking a bit weak at this point. The QPF forecast this morning is at .59 to .77 on the ECMWF model I use. Snowfall-wise, that would add up to 4-7 inches at the 8-1 to 10-1 ratios that are expected with this system.

The heavier snow ratios will be a blessing as it will stick better to the snowpack that thawed out the last couple of days.

This system will be a quick hitter, and spring will return starting Monday / Tuesday. This morning’s data still has an N to NE flow on Monday, so that would limit how fast spring returns. By mid-week, the next ridge will have established itself along the west coast with the highest heights in the Pacific Northwest.

The inside slider that was showing up a couple of days ago is now forecasted to move off to the east and not drop into the Great Basin. That will leave Mammoth Mountain and the Eastern Sierra with average spring temperatures next week.

The current snowline is about 7500 feet, so it’s still full-on winter recreation and snow time in all areas above that elevation. Below that, it’s springtime from Crowley Lake to Toms Place and down to Mill Pond and the Bishop Area. Trees below the 6000-foot level have now budded, and the leaves are coming out.

If you’re traveling to the area at this time of year (April into May), the weather is such that you should start thinking about Skiing and Riding during the morning hours and then Hiking, Fishing, Disc Golfing at Mill Pond, or even Mountain Biking during the afternoon hours.

The weather during these months ranges from the upper 40s to lower 50s at the 9000-foot level, aka Main Lodge, with 50s and 60s in Mammoth Lakes, with the 70s to 80s down in Bishop. Yes, there can be a bit of snow and rain, but sunny days are more probable. It can still get cold, especially at night, so don’t leave your jacket and layers at home.