Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Bishop, CA

UPDATE

Latest water vapor imagery and 500 hPa RUC analysis shows the region under broad northwesterly flow aloft as the system responsible for the cool, breezy weather over the weekend continues its slow exit to the east. In its wake, lingering clouds are expected today, along with a low chance (10-30%) for light wrap-around precipitation this afternoon. The better chance for showers will be across portions of the Southern Great Basin, though a few members of the high-resolution model suite indicate potential for showers to develop as far south as southern Inyo and Clark Counties, especially in mountain areas where orographic lift will aid development. Thus, have made some minor adjustments to PoPs this afternoon and evening. However, if showers occur, rainfall amounts will be light with limited if any tangible impacts. Otherwise, the forecast remains on track this morning, with highs expected to be around 10 degrees warmer than yesterday across the board, but still top out around 5 degrees below normal this afternoon. No other updates are warranted at this time.

SHORT TERM
Today and Tuesday.

As a strong low pushes eastward out of the Desert Southwest, wrap around showers will bring another round of light scattered shower activity to portions of Inyo, Esmeralda, Nye, Lincoln, and Clark counties this afternoon. With PWATs between 0.25 and 0.75" across the southern Great Basin and northern Mojave Desert, we can expect low precipitation totals, generally between 0.05 and 0.15".
Mountainous regions can expect the higher end of that range, with the assistance of orographic lift. Cannot rule out a stray lightning strike, with CAPE values generally between 100 and 200 J/kg. On the back end of the trough, gusty northwest winds will pick up this afternoon in northern Inyo, Esmeralda, and southern Nye counties, with speeds generally between 20 and 30 mph.

Otherwise, expect partly-to-mostly sunny conditions south and east of Interstate 15, with afternoon high temperatures 6-8 degrees warmer than yesterday. Temperatures will warm further on Tuesday, putting the region right around normal for late-April.

LONG TERM
Wednesday through Sunday.

Model clusters are quite consistent with yesterday's solutions and have also come into even better agreement with each other, so confidence is above average. Wednesday morning, the low which has pestered us this weekend will be moving away to the east, and the next trough will be approaching from the north. This weak trough gets pinched off from the main flow, evolving into a cutoff low near the southern California coast Thursday as high pressure builds into the Pacific Northwest, leading to a (short-lived)
pattern similar to a Rex block. Any precip chances Wednesday and Thursday should be limited to the Sierra Nevada and the northern fringes of our CWA Winds could get a little breezy Wednesday, followed by lighter winds Thursday. Temperatures should rise a little more Wednesday and then level out Thursday. Friday, the entire pattern shifts a little bit eastward in response to a full- latitude trough approaching from the eastern Pacific. Precip chances in our area should remain minimal, and southwest winds will increase in response to the approaching trough. The increased winds and mixing should lead to a few more degrees of warming, making Friday the warmest day of the period. Saturday, the Pacific trough should come ashore, with strong model agreement on a negative tilt. This will lead to several degrees of cooling along with strong winds for much of the region. At this time, precip chances look confined to the Sierra Nevada and the southern Great Basin. As the trough axis crosses our area Sunday, precip chances should expand farther south, possibly as far south as I-40.
Directly under the trough wind speeds should decrease, leaving breezy conditions instead of windy. Temperatures will also crash, with highs 10 to 20 degrees cooler than Saturday over most of our area. Mount Charleston could even see light snow.

AVIATION
For Harry Reid
For the 18Z Forecast Package
Winds shift to the northeast around 19z and remain northeast through the afternoon with speeds of 10 kts or less. A few stronger gusts cannot be ruled out. Winds decrease and shift to the southwest in the evening, then to the northwest overnight and tomorrow morning. VFR conditions will prevail through the rest of today and tomorrow with bases remaining AOA 12kft AGL. A few showers may develop over high terrain to the west of Las Vegas in the afternoon, but these should be outside of the vicinity of the terminal.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California
For the 18Z Forecast Package
Winds in the Las Vegas Valley will decrease and shift to the northeast today, then follow the usual diurnal wind pattern tonight. At KBIH, winds will remain mainly northerly with speeds around 15 knots and gusts of over 20 knots through the rest of the day. These should decrease in the evening. Winds at KDAG will become northwest by late morning and generally light and variable during the afternoon, increasing out of the west in the evening. Winds will remain less than 10 kts at KIFP and KEED along with mainly clear skies through the afternoon and evening. A few showers may develop over high terrain in southeastern California and southern Nevada this afternoon, but these should remain outside of the vicinity of any terminal.

SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT
Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures.