Rain has turned to snow at my house in Mariposa, elevation 2700 feet. We already have an inch on the ground, and the radar shows more on the way. I just talked with Gabe at The Ansel Adams Gallery and he said they’ve received about four or five inches so far in Yosemite Valley (elevation 4000 feet). This is the first snow of the season—always a welcome event! Wherever you live you can see this fresh snow on the Yosemite web cams.
The National Weather Service predicts 7 to 11 inches of snow in Yosemite Valley today, with the storm ending late this afternoon or this evening. For photography, that makes the timing tricky. If the storm breaks up before sunset there could be spectacular light and clouds late in the day. If it waits until after sunset - which seems more likely - and clears overnight, there will be fresh snow in the morning, but probably no mist, as cold temperatures will inhibit mist formation. It will still be beautiful though.
I photographed this manzanita outside my office in January 2008. If the snow keeps falling it will look like this again soon!
This storm is so cold that it may snow in the Central Valley. Is it snowing where you are?
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No snow here in Fresno, but I guess the last time it snowed in Fresno was around 99' My mom lives in coarsegold and she said no snow yet. I was expecting it there too but I imagine probably tonight.
ReplyDeleteNo snow in Clovis yet (we are keeping our fingers crossed). Temperature is 39 degrees and it has been raining since 6:30 am-ish.
ReplyDeleteNevermind, it is snowing in Coarsegold now!
ReplyDeleteWe got snow in the East Bay hills. I was on Mt. Tamalpais when the storm came in, but we only got a bit of hail in front of the rain.
ReplyDeleteyes it is and in a few days we will get your storm here in the great lakes area. we already have snow from the weekend. love your photos!
ReplyDeleteTehachapi (where I live) has gotten nearly a foot of snow so travelers and communters should know that our pass is closed too
ReplyDeleteIt snowed a little bit but didn't stick in town here in bishop. Our snow level was about 4500 feet for snow to stick. Those mountains to our west are just tooo big! :)
ReplyDeleteSure looks like fun for tomorrow in yosemite.
Thanks for all the timely information everyone! We got about four inches at my house. I went up to Yosemite Valley this afternoon, where I found about eight or nine inches on the ground. I was hoping that the sun would break through late in the day, but no such luck. Tomorrow looks like it will be clear and cold, so the snow might stay in the trees awhile.
ReplyDeleteThis might be a little late for this blog, but it snowed on me yesterday above Napa on the hills where I was working. There was only a light dusting on the highest hills in both Napa and Sonoma county yesterday. Mt. St. Helena, usually covered with snow by these cold storms, had just a dusting at the very top. It was all gone this morning. Hoping for more of the white stuff!! Snow is always an exciting event where I live...
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite images of yours, Michael. I have for some time wanted to capture the elegance of manzanita but to no avail. Then I saw this image...and from your office, ugh!
ReplyDeleteHow do you think Friday looks in the Valley?
Best regards -- Bishop
Thanks Kirk, Bishop. Snow is always an exciting event here too! - although less unusual than in Sonoma. And thanks Bishop for your comment about the manzanita. It's nice to have a photogenic subject nearby. In the interest of full disclosure, I wasn't actually in the office when I made this. The office (a converted garage) is just out of the frame in the upper-right corner of this photograph.
ReplyDeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteOn Monday 12/7 I left Livermore at 3:20 am and had snow on the Altamont Pass. I did not have snow until Groveland and it snowed all the way into the park...It took two hours from there driving in total darkness and snowing very hard...It snowed all day until about 2:30. I was at Parking lot A as the snow stopped and the sky briefly opened to reveal Half Dome. I made several images and worked my way through the valley...Cooks Meadow had amazing light and I was able to make a few more images, trying to compose with what was in front of me...Tuesday it was 10 degrees as I worked the valley in the early morning...I stayed until sunset...It was a very productive trip...
Jerry Gilligan