Atmosphere Comparison

[Jim]

The endless chatter of weather.

[chumley]

Can't wait for Jan. 16, though, for the sunrises to begin earlier!

Still a few days to go before the mornings start getting light any earlier, but I just noticed that the first three weeks of January, the morning sunrise time changes only 2 minutes, while the evening sunset time increases by almost 20 minutes over the same period.
Science.

[azbackpackr]

@chumley
Yeah, there is math and geometry involved, how the earth is going around the sun. I'm not good at understanding those things, but appreciate the longer days when they happen.

[chumley]

Supes looking nice today.

WARNING. Do NOT click this link until you MUTE the sound or you will die 1000 deaths.

https://www.facebook.com/ABC15/videos/1 ... 554021359/

[azbackpackr]

Washes running in the "tri-state" area where I live. I just drove from the movies at Avi Casino, Nevada, south on the CA side of the river, the few miles to where I live in Needles CA. Most of the washes were running. The Needles Highway has NO bridges. I took a look upstream each time I crossed one. They weren't dangerous...yet! I have to go back to Bullhead this afternoon and I'll go around the other way on the Arizona side. But I can see it is POURING across the river in Arizona, in the desert mountains by Mohave Valley, etc. But the roadways are better over there.

[rcorfman]

@chumley
Nice Supey cascade.

[chumley]

Snowbowl is now reporting storm total snowfall approaching 70 inches! :wlift:

[Jim]

I'm logging on to express a new hope that I may have deep snow, snowshoe experience, on the Peaks in a week, or two, and to report that a brief but heavy El Nino came up from down town and moved north over my domicile. A strong little El Nino fueled Nino, with hail pelting my place. El Nino fueled lightning and El Nino winds, brought El Nino rain and a chance of further Ninos to cross the city. El Ninos are everywhere!

Seriously though, it rained, and stuff. Plus, some pretty impressive 4 day totals all over southern California and Arizona. Including Tucson, which has had some down pours there today. Sierra totals put the snowpack right about average, but that is leagues above where it was over the last 4 years.

[Dave1]

Any idea what Mica Mountain or Manning Camp down in Tucson might have for snow right now? I'm thinking of doing some southern AZT segments soon.

[FOTG]

Not golf ball size, but did get some nasty stuff on my side of town today..19ave looked like a snow storm had went through...

[chumley]

@Dave1
NWS Tucson reported snow level near 3000 this afternoon. Looking at the radar rainfall overlay Mica and the Rincons got bombed hard.

I would guess over 5000 there will be at least a foot of snow. Probably over 2 feet higher up.

[Jim]

I'm with Todd on this. Heavy precip all around the Rincons over the last week, but the gauges on top report small amounts, so logically a deep snow pack is up there. 2, maybe 3 feet, judging by some rain fall amounts around them.

Added: Nearby in the Catalinas, Ski the Lemmon states a Saturday opening is planned, so there must have been some serious accumulations down there.

[The_N]

@friendofThundergod
Is that hail or graupel or something else? I heard someone mention 'snow' in the valley earlier.

[FOTG]

@The N
I think hail..didnt even think about snow lol

[Nighthiker]

About 6 inches of snow with rain in Payson today.

[The_N]

@Nighthiker and still coming down at a fairly good rate..

[sirena]

@Dave1 I'm guessing the Rincons got dumped on. Here's a pic from Pusch Ridge at about 5pm, and the storm still wasn't over yet...

[Dave1]

@chumley
@Jim_H
@sirena
Thanks! Maybe I'll hold off. I was thinking of doing segments 2 through 9 but I don't like the idea of all that snow. Maybe just 2 and 3.

[The_N]

Still snowing in Payson. Yesterday's 6 inches doubled overnight...at least.

[chumley]

Despite their facebook post yesterday, Snowbowl's website is reporting a 55" storm total as of this morning. Still not too shabby.

I clocked 1.7" for the week in Tempe, and it appears most valley locations are in the 1-3" range.

The Superstitions and southern Mazzies got the brunt of it with rain totals all above 4" and a few spots above 6". Finding water out there will not be a problem for quite some time!

In the high-country, there's been a lot of snow. Generally 2' or more over 7000 feet. A few more inches should fall today, and another storm may add to it in Northern AZ tomorrow.

Not sure how the weather service defines these back-to-back systems as a single storm, but apparently they do, and if you add up the last 5 days, Flagstaff is going to end up with a top 20 (or better) snow event for the week.

[Jim]

It looks like the Peaks backcountry has got some very nice snow. Snowslide canyon reports a significantly improved and pretty deep pack, and Snowbowl reports, well they reports totals. It's probably deep there, too.

Is anyone going up this weekend to snowshoe or do some back country activities (not Snowbowl and not the cross country place)? Hopefully, there will be pictures posted. I am not, FYI.