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The little town on Mono Lake's west shore, between Conway Summit and the Tioga road.
Conway Summit and Lee Vining is open. No chain controls are in effect on this stretch right now.
Lee Vining right now: Mostly Sunny, 51°F, wind 5 to 10 mph W.
Mostly sunny. High near 51, with temperatures falling to around 43 in the afternoon. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
25°F
Partly Cloudy
Wind 10 to 15 mph S
Monday
43°F
Light Snow Likely
Wind 5 to 10 mph SW
Monday Night
17°F
Light Snow Likely
Wind 0 to 5 mph W
Tuesday
36°F
Sunny
Wind 0 to 5 mph W
Tuesday Night
17°F
Partly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
Wind 0 to 15 mph SW
Wednesday
39°F
Snow
Wind 15 mph SW
Wednesday Night
21°F
Snow
Wind 10 to 20 mph S
Thursday
35°F
Light Snow
Wind 5 to 10 mph S
Forecast: National Weather Service.
Lee Vining is a small town with an outsized job: it sits at 6,781 feet on the west shore of Mono Lake, at the junction of US-395 and SR-120, the Tioga road into Yosemite. Every driver on this corridor passes through it, and most stop, for fuel, food, or the view across the lake to the tufa towers. It is the natural midpoint of the drive and the regrouping point between Conway Summit to the north and Deadman Summit to the south.
In summer the Tioga road makes Lee Vining a gateway town, busy from dawn to dark. In winter the town runs quieter and colder, in the wind shadow and the storm shadow of the Sierra crest at once. Mono Basin weather can change fast when a front crosses the crest, and lake effect snow bands off Mono Lake surprise drivers who checked the forecast an hour away.
Lee Vining is the decision point in both directions. Check the corridor status above before committing to Conway Summit northbound or Deadman Summit southbound.