Weather Update — October 9, 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…
Active weather is trending more and more likely each day. A complex interaction between a low pressure system and remnants from Hurricane Rachel will bring widespread precipitation to the Southwest, including Utah, Arizona, Southern California, Nevada, and precipitation in the Eastern Sierra is also trending more and more likely.
The low pressure system responsible for drawing in Rachel’s moisture is taking the form of a “cut-off low”. A cut-off low is named so because it becomes cut off from the regular flow of the jet stream. There’s a famous saying: cut-off low, weatherman’s woe, because they are notoriously hard to predict, so expect fluctuating forecasts over the next few days.
Beginning late on Saturday night, precipitation chances gradually start increasing. The cutoff low appears to stall over us with precipitation chances lasting now until Tuesday. The heaviest precipitation appears likely on Sunday.
Overall, it does still seem like a weak storm, but the stalling cutoff low should bring in some cool air and relatively low snow levels.
Amounts right now don’t seem overly impressive. I’m seeing a dusting of snow mixed with 2 tenths of an inch of rain in Mammoth Lakes, with up to 4” of snow along higher peaks including the summit of Mammoth Mountain.
I will admit, I was expecting somewhat of a dry and boring October, but I now am starting to believe the Pacific may be waking up. A strong subtropical jet stream might be arriving sooner than expected. This is a hallmark of El Niño and the main driver for much of our precipitation in an El Niño year. Right now this is just something we are keeping an eye on into late October.
Here’s the forecast going into the weekend:
In Mammoth Lakes and the surrounding areas.
Friday sunny skies with a high of 71 degrees, and an overnight low of 44. Southwest winds will pick up through the day, gusting to 25 miles per hour in town, and even stronger along the ridgetops.
Saturday starts sunny, with a high of 61 and an overnight low of 38. Winds will strengthen considerably, with southwest gusts reaching 35 miles per hour in town and up to 50 along the ridgetops. By Saturday night, there's a 30 percent chance of light precipitation, with snow possible above 10,000 feet. Any accumulation should be minimal.
Sunday is when things get interesting. There's a 50 percent chance of showers, with a high of 54 and an overnight low of 33. Snow levels start around 9,300 feet, dropping toward 8,000 feet Sunday night as colder air moves in. Strong southwest winds continue. We could pick up around two-tenths of an inch of rain in Mammoth Lakes, with 2 to 3 inches of snow along the higher peaks.
Monday stays unsettled, with a high of 47, a low of 30, and continued chances for rain and snow showers. Snow levels hover around 8,000 feet, and another inch or so of snow could fall at higher elevations. Conditions should gradually improve on Tuesday.
Remember, this is a volatile forecast involving a cutoff low, so the timing, precipitation amounts, and snow levels could change considerably over the next few days.
And now, down to our friends in the Owens Valley.
Friday will be sunny and warm, with a high of 86 degrees and an overnight low of 49. Winds should remain light.
Saturday starts sunny before clouds gradually increase. Expect a high of 82 and an overnight low of 43, with moderate southwest winds. By Saturday night, there's a 20 percent chance of light rain showers.
Sunday brings cooler weather and a 20 to 40 percent chance of rain. Expect a high of 73 degrees and an overnight low around 36.
Monday gets even cooler, with a high of just 62 and an overnight low near 32. Additional rain showers are possible, before conditions gradually clear on Tuesday.
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.