High Sierra Topix

In the spirit of SSSdave's post earlier this year in this forum (Yes 2019 is now a BIG winter: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19220),
I am starting a similar thread for the summer.

As of today, July 03, 2019, the weather is mild. So much so the snowpack in the high country of the Sierra Nevada hasn't melted as fast as it normally would. Now a potential heatwave is just around the corner. The 6-10 and 8-14 day long term predictions from the Climate Prediction Center show a significant chance for heat for the entire Sierra Nevada (and most of California as well as a large portion of the West). The 3-4 week prediction also matches the shorter outlooks: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

In addition, recent forecast discussions at NWS Hanford, Sacremento, and Reno are indicating heat may start sometime next week. Climate scientist Daniel Swain has also stated that heat may begin next week: https://weatherwest.com/archives/6827

Summer 2019 may be hotter than anyone originally thought.

Or not. We'll see.

Well, mid-July and August are SUPPOSED TO be HOT! 2011 also had a delayed melt. I am constantly reviewing my 2011 photos to decide where to go. I wonder if this summer will have a lot of thunder storms. Heat into late Fall always gets to me. I remember when I first moved here, and it was 100 degrees in October. It was also the end of a drought, and the American River was nearly empty. Then came the Dec-Jan deluge. What another shock; the bike trail was then flooded as was a lot of the Central Valley. One thing for sure, the weather is often unpredictable. I am thankful that now I am retired, I can be very flexible with my trips to work around the weather.

Just looked at CPC and WPC as well as NWS Sacramento, Reno and Hanford. Only a few days ago the forecast called for a little heat. Now it's been changed to very hot. Think the snow will melt big time the next seven days.

It really cooled down here yesterday...in the 70*s at 4700 feet (NW of Bishop,) late afternoon. Who knows, but, yes...100*s are predicted.

On my way to Bishop last Saturday, the local report said hot for the foreseeable future. When I came out of Bishop Creek and back to Bishop, it was maybe 80 with a nice cool breeze. It made me wonder about the weatherman's ability to foresee past the end of his nose.

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Keep in mind that weather in mountains can be quite different from that on either side. Here in Sacramento our heat is determined a lot by the delta breeze- whether it is blowing or not. Both north and south in the central valley, it has less impact. The east side weather is influenced a lot by moisture coming from the SW. So we easily could have a both excessive heat and excessive rain/thunderstorms or normal conditions depending on where you are. Also, southern and northern California (and southern vs northern Sierra) often have very different weather. The long term climatic reports, say 2-3 months out, are very broad and do not take into account micro-climates.

So far it has NOT been a "big summer", and we are half way thorough the summer, so if averaged out, I suspect we are going to be pretty normal. Perhaps warmer and drier Fall than average. We just have to wait and see. It is the southern and eastern US that are getting the "big summer" this year. Or even more extreme, Europe. 108F in Paris! Yikes!