Transverse Dreams
@transversedreams.bsky.social
A SoCal hiking and skiing blog
Connective sunny day thunderstorms over the San Gabriels? in February?? Sure why not. Right on brand for this winter.
February 6, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Connective sunny day thunderstorms over the San Gabriels? in February?? Sure why not. Right on brand for this winter.
Thanks! This station is in a gentle valley near (but not quite at) the top of Table Mountain at the LA/SB County border above the high desert. Big Pines seems to experience these bursts too. Temperature stays remarkably constant.
January 29, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Thanks! This station is in a gentle valley near (but not quite at) the top of Table Mountain at the LA/SB County border above the high desert. Big Pines seems to experience these bursts too. Temperature stays remarkably constant.
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!
Note the unusual inversion that had kept Wrightwood colder is gone. Same story at Big Bear area resorts (images Snow Valley and Snow Summit, weather at Valley).
January 25, 2026 at 4:22 AM
Note the unusual inversion that had kept Wrightwood colder is gone. Same story at Big Bear area resorts (images Snow Valley and Snow Summit, weather at Valley).
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.
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.
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!!
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 those desert clouds on satellite
January 9, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Here’s those desert clouds on satellite
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)
And sure enough a Santa Ana event is on its way today. One complicating factor for snowmaking, which I’m not sure forecasts pick up, is that with all the recent rains, the ground and vegetation are very wet, which will keep humidity and dew points a little higher near the ground surface.
January 8, 2026 at 3:41 PM
And sure enough a Santa Ana event is on its way today. One complicating factor for snowmaking, which I’m not sure forecasts pick up, is that with all the recent rains, the ground and vegetation are very wet, which will keep humidity and dew points a little higher near the ground surface.
Today looks like an incipient Santa Ana wind setup, with Mtn High experiencing dry NW winds from the desert that should let them make a good amount of snow. Further east in the San B Mtns, flow is WSW and hasn’t flipped to the desert yet. Also it’s just great to see Mtn High is back!!
January 8, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Today looks like an incipient Santa Ana wind setup, with Mtn High experiencing dry NW winds from the desert that should let them make a good amount of snow. Further east in the San B Mtns, flow is WSW and hasn’t flipped to the desert yet. Also it’s just great to see Mtn High is back!!
Mountain High is tricky because depending on the exact alignment of winds it can either be shadowed by Baldy or directly exposed to SSW flow up East Fork San Gabriel Canyon. That led to huge snow totals in the 2023 blizzard - and huge rain totals in the 2025 rainstorm.
January 8, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Mountain High is tricky because depending on the exact alignment of winds it can either be shadowed by Baldy or directly exposed to SSW flow up East Fork San Gabriel Canyon. That led to huge snow totals in the 2023 blizzard - and huge rain totals in the 2025 rainstorm.
Snow Summit and Bear are in between - somewhat sheltered from both the desert and marine influences by the shallow bowl of the Big Bear Valley.
January 8, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Snow Summit and Bear are in between - somewhat sheltered from both the desert and marine influences by the shallow bowl of the Big Bear Valley.
Conversely, Snow Valley is perched on the southern rim of the San Bernardino Mtns, overlooking the Inland Empire and coastal SoCal. They are the least desert exposed and most marine-influenced resort in SoCal. So today they have a temp of 27F and dew of 27F - fog and tough snowmaking conditions.
January 8, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Conversely, Snow Valley is perched on the southern rim of the San Bernardino Mtns, overlooking the Inland Empire and coastal SoCal. They are the least desert exposed and most marine-influenced resort in SoCal. So today they have a temp of 27F and dew of 27F - fog and tough snowmaking conditions.
In fact last year we saw Mountain High make snow when the air temperature was 50F! The dew point was -21F. Mtn High, on the north side of the San Gabriels, is most exposed to the air mass of the Mojave Desert, which often gives them the lowest dew points. Today it’s 29F with dew of 18F.
January 8, 2026 at 3:17 PM
In fact last year we saw Mountain High make snow when the air temperature was 50F! The dew point was -21F. Mtn High, on the north side of the San Gabriels, is most exposed to the air mass of the Mojave Desert, which often gives them the lowest dew points. Today it’s 29F with dew of 18F.
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 :/
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
LPC is county so it doesn’t show up on quickmap. County says it’s still closed. MH says the 2 is open to employees and residents. Would be a good thing to have integrated.
December 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM
LPC is county so it doesn’t show up on quickmap. County says it’s still closed. MH says the 2 is open to employees and residents. Would be a good thing to have integrated.