Hammer of God (winter storm 2017)

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Dingus Milktoast

Trad climber
Minister of Moderation, Fatcrackistan
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 3, 2017 - 02:44pm PT
Hydrological Hammer of the Gods

Most likely the only time I will ever report a weather forecast is to bring you this snapshot of Monday’s seven-day Quantitative Precipitation numbers. Note the two biggest digits on the map, centered on California’s Sierra Nevada range: 18 inches and 18.9 inches. That means it’s expected to precipitate 18-plus inches of water around the Sierra crest—accounting for typical 10:1 snow-to-water ratios, that suggests about 15 feet of snow above elevation 8,500 or so. The local weather guru in Mammoth is predicting 12-16 feet on the upper mountain.

The forecast is calling for windy and coldish storming this week totaling out to about 10 inches of precip at high elevations, and then that looming wetter second phase over the weekend with snow levels rising at times to as high as 9,000 feet, or exactly high enough to properly infuriate Tahoe skiers.

The recent temblor activity in the Walker Lane and Sacramento Valley of NorCal has me thinking.... god, she may drop the big one on us!

;)

Batten down boys, Ma Nature has something to say.

DMT
NutAgain!

Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
Jan 3, 2017 - 02:46pm PT
!!! Damnit time to figure out free weekends in the next few months. Maybe this will be the year of blissful eastside spring skiing?
slabbo

Trad climber
colo south
Jan 3, 2017 - 03:08pm PT
DMT "- there is no God..relax. We had 30" here in SoCo and are fine



Drink Up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
Jan 3, 2017 - 03:15pm PT
I saw that report after I'd checked the NOAA forecast here about half an hour ago. For the first time in my memory, the forecast included a "hydrologic report" in the form of an alert or warning. I checked back a few minutes ago, to see the doppler radar, and noticed that the "hydrologic report" was deleted.

It still predicts a ton of moisture over the Sierra during the next week. Since I have no climbing plans for that time, I'm looking forward to it. I note, however, that the snow level is rather high, at least for the southern Sierra, so I hope it doesn't result in flash floods like 20 years ago. We still don't have our Yosemite Valley campsites back that they closed then, and I'm not sure what Aramark or the current or future NPS would do if given another flood as an excuse to get rid of more of those pesky car campers.

John

labrat

Trad climber
Erik O. Auburn, CA
Jan 3, 2017 - 03:20pm PT
Let it rain and snow! Yay!
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Jan 3, 2017 - 04:30pm PT
It still predicts a ton of moisture over the Sierra during the next week.


2,000 lbs / 8 lbs/gal = 250 gals

Not nearly enough to do any good, John.

That's dismal, in fact.

Which way do they say the wind is blowing? :0)
labrat

Trad climber
Erik O. Auburn, CA
Jan 3, 2017 - 04:38pm PT
The reason Oroville and Folsom are kept low.....

Oroville at 56%
Folsom at 41%
Shasta is quite a bit higher at 73%

They are all about double of what they had stored a year ago at this date..
AP

Trad climber
Calgary
Jan 3, 2017 - 04:57pm PT
We have full winter conditions in Calgary
i-b-goB

Social climber
Wise Acres
Jan 3, 2017 - 07:16pm PT
Here's some thunder...

HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Jan 3, 2017 - 07:28pm PT
Tuolumne Mdws forecast
TonightSnow. The snow could be heavy at times. Temperature rising to around 33 by 4am. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible.

WednesdaySnow. The snow could be heavy at times. Temperature rising to near 34 by 9am, then falling to around 23 during the remainder of the day. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches possible.

Wednesday NightSnow. Temperature rising to around 36 by 2am. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

ThursdaySnow. High near 35. Windy, with a west southwest wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday NightSnow showers likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8. Windy, with a west wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

FridayMostly sunny, with a high near 33. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday NightA 40 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 18. West southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

SaturdaySnow. High near 34. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday NightSnow. Low around 26. South southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

SundayRain and snow. High near 37. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Sunday NightRain and snow. Low around 21. Breezy, with a south southwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

MondaySnow. High near 39. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Monday NightSnow showers. Low around 13. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Reminds me of the Storm of '82 that caught us just under Shepherd Pass. That was an epic bivvy and retreat.
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Jan 3, 2017 - 07:31pm PT
The current satellite image:

Live is even more dramatic. Of course this will change every 30 mins.
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/west/nepac/h5-loop-ir2.html

Current water vapor snapshot
WBraun

climber
Jan 3, 2017 - 07:48pm PT
Meh .... nothings happening yet.

Pussy storm so far.

97 was the one .......
rick sumner

Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
Jan 3, 2017 - 07:53pm PT
I'm returning to NV from AK thursday night. Is my place at 5500' and one range east of The Sierra going to be hammered, or is this an over hype like supposed atmospheric rivers of recent years past?
WBraun

climber
Jan 3, 2017 - 07:54pm PT
The weatherperson looked at you straight in the eye from your TV screen.

It did? I wish I have a TV to see that ......
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
Jan 3, 2017 - 08:17pm PT
Behold and believe.
chainsaw

Trad climber
CA
Jan 3, 2017 - 09:51pm PT
Gettin HAMMERED in Sutter Co. River is rising....lookout Olivehurst!
rick sumner

Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
Jan 3, 2017 - 10:24pm PT
So, will I need to shovel the offending white stuff to get in or not DMT?
Mighty Hiker

climber
Outside the Asylum
Jan 3, 2017 - 10:26pm PT
More complaints from Californians about water. Would you guys give it a rest already?

FWIW, Vancouver has had cool - but not particularly cold - weather for the last four weeks, with snow every week or so. The jet stream having decided to funnel cold air through western North America. Currently clear and about -5 here, supposed to warm up a bit for the weekend with some snow, then cool again, with a further outbreak of cold air. Which suggests that a disastrous dingusapple express event isn't likely anywhere soon on the western cordillera.
jonnyrig

climber
Jan 3, 2017 - 10:37pm PT
Hammer of god? More like he stumbled to the bathroom to take a piss. Just a little bit of rain here so far. Seems like they sensationalize the weather these days the way they do cat farts on a slow news night.
Say, is there anything climbable between here and vegas when it's wet? I have to drive for CES. Maybe I'll just go skinny dip in a hot spring and watch this whole hammer of god thing roll in for a little while on my way. But it all begs the question- good beer or liquor fir the spring?
rick sumner

Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
Jan 3, 2017 - 10:46pm PT
If it gets cold enough after its been wet enough, Johnny, you can fill the thermos with hot buttered rum and climb ice chutes on the horrible cross of Mt. Grant above Walker Lake. Not often though.
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