Tag: Meteorologist Chris Tomer

Strongest April/May La Nina since 1999

Tomer’s Take: Nino 3.4 region water temps are currently -1.1C. That’s the coldest water temp in this region since 1999. This anchors the atmosphere and the current pattern continues through May. I’m forecasting an active month of May across the Intermountain West with above normal amounts of rain, snow, and wind. The jet stream is […]

Looking back at Winter 2021-2022

Tomer’s Take: Winter started late in many areas with warm/dry weather through most of November and early December. December ended strong in the Sierra and across the Intermountain West with a few moderate to strong atmospheric river (AR) setups. These AR’s hit parts of Colorado hard including above normal snowfall (100″) in Crested Butte. Then […]

Season totals, strong wind, and active early May pattern

Tomer’s Take: The storm track continues to favor the West with a few storm systems lined-up through 5/5. The proximity of the jet stream through 5/5 keeps strong wind in the forecast. Infrared satellite shows the active storm track and storm systems over the Pacific. Season Totals 2021-2022 A few highlights: Alta 440″ Wolf Creek […]

Last gasp of April

Tomer’s Take One last storm major system through 4/24 for the Intermountain West then the pattern shifts favoring the PNW. Precipitation starts as rain in many mountain valleys before changing to snow. Infrared satellite shows the storm track and large Pacific storm system moving into California. The 2nd Pacific storm system takes a more northern […]

Snow and wind through the weekend

Tomer’s Take Western storm cycle concludes with a strong, windy, and slower moving storm system. High to Extreme wildfire risk precedes this storm system. Wind gusts could reach 100mph with blowing dust. A dust layer is possible on the snowpack. After 4/24 the pattern shifts. The storm track moves into PNW and turns more tranquil […]

April snow keeps coming

Tomer’s Take Two storm systems follow a powerful jet stream and deliver heavy snow to parts of the West through 4/24. California’s UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab is reporting a few feet of snow in the last 7 days. The first storm system is smaller and takes a more northern track and only brushes […]

April snow, wind, and cold continue

Tomer’s Take Snow and wind continue in northern CA, ID, UT, WY, CO, NM through 4/15. Favorable WNW jet stream orientation adds orographic enhancement. Temps are below zero with strong wind in the Mountains of Colorado. Next storm hits CA 4/16 then takes a more northern track with heavy snow in the PNW, ID, WY, […]

La Nina continues into Summer

Water temperatures in the Equatorial South Pacific are running about 1.0C colder than normal. The latest forecast calls for water temps to stay colder than normal into Summer – through June-July-August. The blue bars in the graph below represent La Nina. Here’s a look at the model spread over time. We’ve been locked into La […]

Lenticular Magic

My friend Scot Stewart shot the video and photo below on 2/13/2022. These types of “spaceship clouds” are called lenticular clouds. They can also be called standing wave clouds. They’re created and maintained by strong winds aloft over mountainous terrain. I’ve talked a lot about lenticular clouds in past mountain weather safety courses. Typically they […]