Effects of the Mono Winds August 30, 2012 Tioga Road near Mono
Pass Trailhead Dramatic evidence of the regional phenomenon
known as the Mono Winds can be seen just off the Tioga road near
the Mono Pass Trailhead. Numerous trees are down in this area,
having been blown down last winter. When a high pressure system
is over the Great Basin, the clockwise movement of air pushes up
and over the Sierra and picks up speed as it rushes down the
western slopes. The rugged topography funnels some of that air,
further increasing the speed and intensifying localized effects.
The Mono Winds can easily reach 50 mph and in extreme cases
exceed 100 mph. It is likely that the wind that knocked these
trees down was funneled by the Tioga pass and continued down the
Tioga road. Most of the downed trees are near the road and lying
parallel with the road. The weather patterns that cause the Mono
Winds occur from October to April but are most common in
December and January.