Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

First autumn snowfall in the Eastern Sierra

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

It snowed yesterday for the first time this season!

A dusting on Mt. Wood and Mt. Lewis just west of Mono Lake last night at sunset. Photo by Elin Ljung.

After so little snow last winter … after a paltry runoff season last spring … after looking at brown mountains all summer … this healthy dusting on the peaks is a beautiful relief. The sun is already peeking out of the clouds again, and this weekend’s forecast looks warmer, but do your snow dances—may we get feet and feet of snow this coming winter.

As always, snow to the Sierra closes mountain passes and changes driving conditions—Tioga Pass closed last night but is currently open again. Always check the Caltrans website or call 1-800-GAS-ROAD before you travel.