Big (Bad) Weather On The Way

September 7, 2005

By Bump Diamond
Man About Town

    The weather gods must have heard that the century cyclists are in town, because they're getting set to throw a little mean weather at Mammoth.
    Last year, during an autumn that was remarkable for its sublime and lovely alpine weather, the weather gods threw rain, wind and a 5.0 earthquake at the 900 or so cyclists in town for the annual Fall Century, 100-mile bike ride. As soon as the riders left, the weather turned lovely again.
    This might be deja vu all over again.
    The National Weather Service tonight said that a late summer storm system was to bring "gusty winds and cooler temperatures, with the possibility of showers and thunderstorms this weekend."
    Well, that was pretty grim news for us two-wheelers, I'm telling you. Me, I was with the Eastside Velos tonight, stuffing goody bags for the cyclists, and the word around the room was that while the lower elevations might get wind and cool temperatures, plus a little rain, Mammoth just might get its first snow of the season.
   Why not?
    The weather service said that a vigorous low pressure system and associated cold front is expected
to drop south from the Gulf of Alaska and begin to affect the region midday Friday.
    The weather service said winds gusting around 30-35 miles an hour ahead of the front
will affect Mammoth by  beginning early Saturday morning.
    And in a cruel statement almost tailored to the cycling crowd, the weather service said that "winds are likely to remain moderate and may continue to inhibit recreational interests through Monday morning."
    Yeah, geez, right.