SITUATION REPORT
Incident: Winter Weather Update
March 11-12, 2023
Published: March 11; 6:00 p.m.

KEY ISSUES/CONCERNS
Atmospheric River Weather Event: The strong Atmospheric River weather event has brought the bulk of precipitation to the Eastern Sierra, and lingering snow showers are expected to last
through Saturday (03/11).

The National Weather Service (NWS) has also identified thunderstorms forming on the western slope of the Sierras, and anticipate this weather system reaching Mono County late this afternoon. This storm will bring heavier precipitation rates, and potential thunder/lightning.

The second Atmospheric River weather event is now expected to hit the Eastern Sierra Tuesday (03/14).

No major wind events are expected at this time.

Mono County may experience a minor lull in extreme weather on Monday (03/13).

Mono County 9-1-1: 9-1-1 is down for all of Mono County. Residents and visitors are directed to
call the Sheriff’s Office direct line to Dispatch at (760) 932-7549, option 7, for any emergencies.

Sandbags Stationed in Each Community: Mono County and the California Office of Emergency
Services (Cal OES) have staged sandbags in each community for residents to use during the storm. Details on sandbag location information and maps for the staging areas are available here and on the READY Mono portal.

WARMING CENTER AND SHELTER
Warming Center (Bridgeport): A Warming Center has been set up in Bridgeport at Memorial Hall (73 N School Street). The overnight shelter will reopen should the need arise. Call (760) 924- 4633 for more information.

Temporary Evacuation Center (June Lake): A Temporary Evacuation Point has been set up at the June Lake Community Center. Call (619) 341-9584 for more information.

Reduced Rates for Evacuees at The Carson Valley Inn: The Carson Valley Inn will be honoring a
rate of $89 plus tax in the main hotel until March 31st for anyone displaced or without power
(subject to availability). No pets. Call (800) 321-6983 for reservations.

Reduced Rates for Evacuees at the Virginia Creek Settlement: The Virginia Creek Settlement willbe honoring a rate of $70 plus tax per night; $150 plus tax for 3 nights for anyone displaced or without power (subject to availability). Pets allowed. Call (760) 932-7780 for reservations.

EMERGENCY ALERTS
Evacuation Order: Due to an extreme avalanche threat, the Mono County Office of Emergency
Management issued an evacuation order to the residents on the South side of Highway 158 from the Fire Station to Reverse Creek Campground and Dream Mountain Drive in June Lake. A Temporary Evacuation Point has been set up at the June Lake Community Center.

Winter Storm Watch: The National Weather Service’s (NWS) Winter Storm Watch that started
Thursday (03/09) at 4 p.m. has been extended to Wednesday (03/15).

Flood Watch: The NWS has issued a Flood Watch from Thursday (03/09) at 4 p.m. until Sunday (03/12) at 11 a.m.

Mono County has declared a Local State of Emergency.

The Town of Mammoth Lakes has declared a Local State of Emergency.

Governor Newsom has declared a State of Emergency for Mono County and several other
counties impacted by the storm.

President Biden has declared a National State of Emergency.

WEATHER CONDITIONS
See above under Key Issues/Concerns.

TRAFFIC/ROAD CONDITIONS
Caltrans has closed U.S. 395 from Bridgeport to the 167 Junction at Mono City due to whiteout
conditions. 182 out of Bridgeport is still a full closure. In addition, the highway remains closed
from Lee Vining to Bridgeport due to avalanches in the burned area above Mono Lake. The
highway is open from Bridgeport north. There is no estimated time for opening the section of U.S. 395 north of Lee Vining where a series of avalanches took out transmission facilities and crossed the road, burying sections of the road under 30-40 feet of snow and debris. The best estimate is the road will be closed in that area for at least this week and into next week.

S.R. 167 from U.S. 395 to the Nevada state line is closed.

U.S. 395 in the Walker Canyon has been reopened following avalanche concerns.

Benton Crossing Road is closed.

UTILITIES
Southern California Edison (SCE) is reporting a power outage in Mammoth Lakes with an
estimated restoration time of 6:00 p.m. today.

The power has been restored in Walker.

RESOURCES
READY Mono Portal: https://ready.mono.ca.gov/
Mono County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countyofmono
Town of Mammoth Lakes:

https://www.townofmammothlakes.ca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=833
National Weather Service – Reno: https://www.weather.gov/reno
CHP Activity – Mono/Inyo Counties: https://cad.chp.ca.gov/Traffic.aspx
Easter Sierra Avalanche Center: https://www.esavalanche.org/

Mono County Webcams:

https://www.monocounty.org/plan-your-trip/weather-and-road-conditions/webcams-in-mono-county/

Caltrans – Road Information: https://roads.dot.ca.gov/roadscell.php