We’ve just posted Lee Vining weather data for June 2010 on the Mono Basin Clearinghouse. It was a windy June, with an average wind speed of 4.7 mph–the highest average wind speed since 2001′s 5.1 mph (2005 came close with 4.6 mph). The maximum wind speed of 47 mph was unremarkable.

It was also warm at night in June. The lowest minimum  temperature of 37.6 F was the highest since 2003′s 40.6 F (unofficial data). The average minimum temperature (more…)

In mid-March the sun began melting the snow in the Mono Basin very quickly, and now on the fifth day of spring, many south-facing slopes are bare, and below 7,000 feet the remaining snow is retreating quickly into the shade. Above 7,000 feet deep snow (more…)

American Avocets feed on Alkali Flies as the near-perfect summer weather continues at Mono Lake. Photo by Claire Skinner.

With Tioga Road (Hwy 120) closed west of White Wolf in Yosemite National Park, Labor Day weekend crowds will be smaller than usual in the Mono Basin. Smoke from the Big Meadow Fire near Crane Flat is mostly going north of the Mono Basin. The fire is now 70% contained but road closures will remain in effect at least through the holiday weekend. Click here for the latest on the Yosemite fire.

WEATHER
Warm days and cool nights. Highs near 80 and lows in the 40s. Smoke in the north part of the Mono Basin is intermittent, with some clear and some smoky days. Skies over (more…)

Since the first week in May, cold and windy weather has been replaced by warm and calmer weather. This sudden change caused trees to leaf out, flowers to bloom, bugs and birds to come out, and snowmelt to dramatically increase. Sonora Pass opened last week and Tioga Pass opened yesterday. The last two weeks have been a burst of springtime activity! (more…)

Today is the Vernal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. The days are now getting longer than the nights, the sun continues to move higher in the sky, and the snow line continues to move uphill. Our homepage has changed–winter photos are gone and spring (more…)