This morning it's warm, windy, raining, and snowing. As of 5 a.m. the rain snow line was hovering somewhere above 8000 ft but will be dropping as cold air descends from the north. Temperatures are quickly cooling as I type this and 2-4 inches of snow has fallen so far at upper elevations with rain at many other placess. At the onset of precipitation, temperatures were in the mid to upper 30s F. Gusty WINDS are averaging 10-30 mph gusting 30-45 mph from the west.
Today a bit more snow will fall, maybe another inch or two and temperatures should drop into the upper teens F this morning at upper elevations while many trailhead temperatures should be 28-30 degrees F. Strong winds will continue from the west and will ease some this afternoon.
The rest of the week should be warm and dry with a ridge of high pressure dominating the weather. Things begin changing Saturday with (according to the National Weather Service) a "pattern flip to a more wet and cool period". Some snow may fall early next week but no major storms are in the long range forecasts.
As for the snow, warm and very windy weather overnight has created a highly variable snow surface. The highest north-facing slopes had a little soft snow yesterday that was likely affected by strong winds last night.There has been no recent avalanche activity.
