Mammoth Lakes is part of the Micro-thermal Climate (Boreal); These climates are characterized by having the average temperature of the coldest month below 27°F. These are the areas of heaviest snowfall in the Sierra with severe winters and the average temperature warmest month > 50°F. These climates occur only in the higher areas of Sierra Nevada, typically above 6,000-7,000 ft.
Te Sierra Nevada, like much of California, has a Mediterranean climate of warm, dry summers (driven by high pressure systems off the coast) and cool wet winters (governed primarily by the onshore movement of winter storm fronts down the Pacific Coast). Most precipitation falls between October and April, though the Sierra crest is subject to summer thunderstorms.In the higher elevations (above about 5000 ft.), most precipitation occurs as snow In the lower elevations, most precipitation occurs as rain. In the lowest part of the foothills adjacent to the Central Valley, snow is extremely rare, and may not occur for decades.
The Sierra Nevada range acts as a giant water trap, wringing all the moisture from the Pacific storms as they move east. This is a boon to California agriculture, since the water from the Sierra flows into the Central Valley, but it also creates a vast rain shadow desert that stretches for five hundred miles to the east.
Sierra Nevada is home to the highest peak in California, Mt. Whitney
Landforms
The natural vegetation of the Sierra Nevada varies dramatically with elevation and from the west side of the range to the east side. Changes in vegetation are driven primarily by climate and precipitation, with more drought and heat adapted vegetation types in the foothills and more cold adapted types in the higher mountains.Mammoth Lakes would be found in the Fir vegetation region allowing great advanced snow sports.
Sources:
Sierranevadaphotos
