Weather Update — September 30, 2026

Transcript

My friends…

Today is another stunner of a day on the Eastside, and I’m Noé from eastsideweather.com, here for MammothFM in the Eastern Sierra, coming atcha with your local weather report…

Another Monday, and another early taste of winter! Monday’s showers brought a light coating of snow to Mammoth Lakes and many surrounding areas. Some precipitation fell as graupel, which allowed that precious frozen stuff to reach all the way down into town.

This week marks the start of what looks to be quite an extended ridging pattern. Last week, I explained how a trough is an area of low pressure associated with a dip in the jet stream. Well, a ridge is essentially just the opposite of that, and instead of bringing storms and cooler temps, it brings warm, stable weather.

The ridging pattern currently looks likely to hang around for at least 7-10 days. This will mean temperatures well above average, and mostly dry conditions. Our only off-chance at moisture in the meantime could be if a monsoonal type flow pattern develops. I know we’re all looking forward to that first big dump, which can occasionally come in October, but my personal feeling is that we may have to be patient.

With high pressure, fire activity in the Dome Fire could see an uptick. This fire is currently burning 30 miles west of Mammoth Lakes and is at over 5400 acres and 39% containment. Troughing activity has helped crews make solid containment gains, and the recent language used in reports sounds increasingly optimistic to me.

Over the next two days, shifting winds could bring patchy smoke to the Eastside, but no major sustained hit looks likely. We’ll continue to monitor the Dome Fire for any air quality issues. Let’s hope for good news!

And now, the weather this week:

In Mammoth Lakes and surrounding areas, Wednesday through Friday will feature mostly sunny weather, with highs between 76 and 80 degrees, and overnight lows in the upper 40s and low 50s.

And now down to our friends in the Owens Valley: from Wednesday to Friday, expect mostly sunny weather, with highs between 88 and 91F, and lows in the mid 50s.

This has been Noé for MammothFM in the eastern sierra. Join me over on eastsideweather.com where you can get a detailed weather forecast for anywhere in the eastern sierra, and read my longer range weather outlooks.