Transverse Dreams
@transversedreams.bsky.social
A SoCal hiking and skiing blog
Table Mountain is so fascinating as a reflection of the air mass over the Mojave Desert. Incredibly little diurnal variation! But what I’m really curious about is the relatively quick crashes in dew points. -30F!? What causes that?
January 29, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Table Mountain is so fascinating as a reflection of the air mass over the Mojave Desert. Incredibly little diurnal variation! But what I’m really curious about is the relatively quick crashes in dew points. -30F!? What causes that?
A cold start in Big Bear and Wrightwood with a shallow inversion back in WW. Super dry air at 7000’ with dew points down to -20F!
January 27, 2026 at 2:01 PM
A cold start in Big Bear and Wrightwood with a shallow inversion back in WW. Super dry air at 7000’ with dew points down to -20F!
Finally! I’m sure SoCal ski area managers are breathing a nice dry sigh of relief after humidity finally crashed allowing the return of snowmaking weather. Everyone was set up last night but it was too humid for snowmaking despite temps near freezing. Here’s Mountain High.
January 25, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Finally! I’m sure SoCal ski area managers are breathing a nice dry sigh of relief after humidity finally crashed allowing the return of snowmaking weather. Everyone was set up last night but it was too humid for snowmaking despite temps near freezing. Here’s Mountain High.
Reposted by Transverse Dreams
In some parts of central and southern California, the first portion of the 2025-2026 rainy season has been both record warm and record wet! How does this fit into the bigger picture regarding California climate on a warming Earth?
A record warm & record wet start to rainy season in parts of California: What's the bigger picture?
The October through December 2025 period was record warm across much of California, and also record wet in central and southern parts of the state. But California has also experienced record-breaking dryness and drought in recent years. So, how does this all fit into what we know about California cl
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January 22, 2026 at 6:54 PM
In some parts of central and southern California, the first portion of the 2025-2026 rainy season has been both record warm and record wet! How does this fit into the bigger picture regarding California climate on a warming Earth?
Congrats to anyone who pulled the trigger on a midweek Mountain High trip and is getting rewarded with this surprise snow squall! Forecast snow levels were 7000-8000 but with stronger than expected precipitation leading to evaporative cooling, it’s enough to accumulate a little bit! Woohoo!!
January 22, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Congrats to anyone who pulled the trigger on a midweek Mountain High trip and is getting rewarded with this surprise snow squall! Forecast snow levels were 7000-8000 but with stronger than expected precipitation leading to evaporative cooling, it’s enough to accumulate a little bit! Woohoo!!
Another morning with a super shallow inversion allowing Snow Valley to make snow only at the base! The low was 29F while just a mile away and 400’ higher up it was over 40F.
January 20, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Another morning with a super shallow inversion allowing Snow Valley to make snow only at the base! The low was 29F while just a mile away and 400’ higher up it was over 40F.
“There is less terrain open in mid January than in any of the 50 years I’ve skied SoCal... Mammoth delayed opening for the first time since snowmaking was installed in 1991.” (Tony Crocker bestsnow.net)
2025-26 is the year that advances in snowmaking stopped being able to outrun climate change.
2025-26 is the year that advances in snowmaking stopped being able to outrun climate change.
January 19, 2026 at 11:55 PM
“There is less terrain open in mid January than in any of the 50 years I’ve skied SoCal... Mammoth delayed opening for the first time since snowmaking was installed in 1991.” (Tony Crocker bestsnow.net)
2025-26 is the year that advances in snowmaking stopped being able to outrun climate change.
2025-26 is the year that advances in snowmaking stopped being able to outrun climate change.
Reposted by Transverse Dreams
Looking ahead, SoCal could see a brief window of scattered showers later this week before dry conditions return; NorCal will remain dry. Toward late Jan, there is a better chance that precipitation may return to CA--but uncertainty is high, and this would (again) be *warm rain.*
January 19, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Looking ahead, SoCal could see a brief window of scattered showers later this week before dry conditions return; NorCal will remain dry. Toward late Jan, there is a better chance that precipitation may return to CA--but uncertainty is high, and this would (again) be *warm rain.*
Am I the only one who dreams about lake effect snow off Lake Manly? Probably. www.instagram.com/reel/DTeY2gW...
𝐓♡𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐀 🦋 Hiking + Travel on Instagram: "Death Valley broke the rules again! 🤯
The ancient Lake Manly located on the hottest place on Earth is back temporarily.
Go see it now or you’ll miss it!!
I ...
iamoneness11 on January 13, 2026: "Death Valley broke the rules again! 🤯
The ancient Lake Manly located on the hottest place on Earth is back temporarily.
Go see it now or you’ll miss it!!
I feel ...
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January 18, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Am I the only one who dreams about lake effect snow off Lake Manly? Probably. www.instagram.com/reel/DTeY2gW...
This inversion has persisted in Wrightwood, w/ the town (6000’) dropping to 30-35 at night and Big Pines (7000’) & Table Mtn (7500’) staying around 45. Overall temps have warmed as the air mass is stuck over the Mojave Desert and slowly warming. Inside slider Monday hopefully advects colder air.
Interesting inversion at the 7000-8000 level this AM; 30F at Mtn High and 38-40F at Snow Valley and top of Snow Summit. Wrightwood, which usually can’t muster an inversion due to its exposure to the desert, is at 25F, and Lake Arrowhead/Rim of the World around 29F-32F.
January 18, 2026 at 5:02 PM
This inversion has persisted in Wrightwood, w/ the town (6000’) dropping to 30-35 at night and Big Pines (7000’) & Table Mtn (7500’) staying around 45. Overall temps have warmed as the air mass is stuck over the Mojave Desert and slowly warming. Inside slider Monday hopefully advects colder air.
BP E/NE aspects (look ok above 8500’) and Baldy NW aspects (solid coverage, probably bulletproof). Not where we hoped to be in the SoCal season after the October and November we had!!
January 18, 2026 at 4:59 PM
BP E/NE aspects (look ok above 8500’) and Baldy NW aspects (solid coverage, probably bulletproof). Not where we hoped to be in the SoCal season after the October and November we had!!
Come to SoCal you can get these conditions guaranteed for a lot less money! 😝
www.instagram.com/reel/DTDuEBm...
www.instagram.com/reel/DTDuEBm...
suziejobaleson on Instagram: "Mud bath season. #parkcity #utahView all 2,171 comments"
Mud bath season. #parkcity #utahView all 2,171 comments
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January 18, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Come to SoCal you can get these conditions guaranteed for a lot less money! 😝
www.instagram.com/reel/DTDuEBm...
www.instagram.com/reel/DTDuEBm...
Interesting inversion at the 7000-8000 level this AM; 30F at Mtn High and 38-40F at Snow Valley and top of Snow Summit. Wrightwood, which usually can’t muster an inversion due to its exposure to the desert, is at 25F, and Lake Arrowhead/Rim of the World around 29F-32F.
January 11, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Interesting inversion at the 7000-8000 level this AM; 30F at Mtn High and 38-40F at Snow Valley and top of Snow Summit. Wrightwood, which usually can’t muster an inversion due to its exposure to the desert, is at 25F, and Lake Arrowhead/Rim of the World around 29F-32F.
Mtn High West
January 11, 2026 at 2:02 AM
Mtn High West
Here’s a view we don’t often get to enjoy: while SoCal hikers and skiers frequently get to see clouds coming from the ocean banked up against the mountains, here’s a scene of clouds coming from the *desert* and banking up against the north slopes!
January 9, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Here’s a view we don’t often get to enjoy: while SoCal hikers and skiers frequently get to see clouds coming from the ocean banked up against the mountains, here’s a scene of clouds coming from the *desert* and banking up against the north slopes!
You love to see it (similar scenes at Big Bear area resorts)
January 9, 2026 at 12:58 AM
You love to see it (similar scenes at Big Bear area resorts)
Cold air advection (in other words - wind moving cold air from one place to another) finally delivering conditions SoCal ski resorts need to make snow. Black-temperature, blue-dew point, green-humidity, red-wind speed. Conditions at Big Pines/Mtn High (bottom left), Snow Valley, & Snow Summit/Bear.
January 8, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Cold air advection (in other words - wind moving cold air from one place to another) finally delivering conditions SoCal ski resorts need to make snow. Black-temperature, blue-dew point, green-humidity, red-wind speed. Conditions at Big Pines/Mtn High (bottom left), Snow Valley, & Snow Summit/Bear.
Quick SoCal scouting… Baldy ok above 8500’. Mill Creek Jumpoff looks interesting. Baldy/Dawson/Pine. San Gorgonio looking decent.
Not pictured but Ontario and Cucamonga are bare all the way to the top on the south sides at least :/
Not pictured but Ontario and Cucamonga are bare all the way to the top on the south sides at least :/
January 7, 2026 at 3:49 AM
Quick SoCal scouting… Baldy ok above 8500’. Mill Creek Jumpoff looks interesting. Baldy/Dawson/Pine. San Gorgonio looking decent.
Not pictured but Ontario and Cucamonga are bare all the way to the top on the south sides at least :/
Not pictured but Ontario and Cucamonga are bare all the way to the top on the south sides at least :/
Lifitie at Snow Summit is running the lift line by clearing out a ton of people from each approaching line and it is the most deranged ski lift line process I’ve ever seen. Even free for all feels more fair.
January 6, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Lifitie at Snow Summit is running the lift line by clearing out a ton of people from each approaching line and it is the most deranged ski lift line process I’ve ever seen. Even free for all feels more fair.
Reposted by Transverse Dreams
Ah jeez, Matt. (Note below RP'd by climate scientist D. Swain.)
December 31, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Ah jeez, Matt. (Note below RP'd by climate scientist D. Swain.)
Ok if you want the definitive facts on the (un)reliability of snow at Mt Waterman, instead of nostalgia, here’s Tony Crocker, unsung hero of documenting SoCal snow conditions at bestsnow.net
December 31, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Ok if you want the definitive facts on the (un)reliability of snow at Mt Waterman, instead of nostalgia, here’s Tony Crocker, unsung hero of documenting SoCal snow conditions at bestsnow.net
Meanwhile over in the San Bernardino Mountains, where ski resorts have escaped the damaging rains, Snow Valley is still not open, and Snow Summit & Bear Mountain are clinging to one or two open runs. It’s as if something has changed…
More footage from the 2, this time near Waterman. TBH Waterman was already dead after 2009 Station Fire & 2010s drought but this is hard to see, ski lifts damaged. The birthplace of Warren Miller & 80s ski films; a decaying monument to a climate that no longer exists.
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December 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Meanwhile over in the San Bernardino Mountains, where ski resorts have escaped the damaging rains, Snow Valley is still not open, and Snow Summit & Bear Mountain are clinging to one or two open runs. It’s as if something has changed…
More footage from the 2, this time near Waterman. TBH Waterman was already dead after 2009 Station Fire & 2010s drought but this is hard to see, ski lifts damaged. The birthplace of Warren Miller & 80s ski films; a decaying monument to a climate that no longer exists.
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December 31, 2025 at 2:28 PM
More footage from the 2, this time near Waterman. TBH Waterman was already dead after 2009 Station Fire & 2010s drought but this is hard to see, ski lifts damaged. The birthplace of Warren Miller & 80s ski films; a decaying monument to a climate that no longer exists.
m.facebook.com/groups/Wrigh...
m.facebook.com/groups/Wrigh...
This video was shot during a search & rescue operation, meanwhile 3 people died on Mt Baldy. Dropping 10”+ of rain on a decent snowpack above 8000’ followed by a quick freeze up has guaranteed any snow that’s still out there is bulletproof. I won’t be tempting fate up there anytime soon.
Major storm damage to Angeles Crest Hwy (the 2) in the high San Gabriels, from Islip Saddle to Big Pines. This area was in the bullseye of the Christmas storm and probably saw 10”-15” of rain. Closed at least thru winter if not longer.
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December 31, 2025 at 2:06 AM
This video was shot during a search & rescue operation, meanwhile 3 people died on Mt Baldy. Dropping 10”+ of rain on a decent snowpack above 8000’ followed by a quick freeze up has guaranteed any snow that’s still out there is bulletproof. I won’t be tempting fate up there anytime soon.