This morning, skies are overcast and it is lightly snowing in the mountains. Mountain temperatures are sitting in the mid 20s and low 30s F. As of 6AM, the upper cottonwoods have picked up an additional trace amount to 2" of new snowfall, bringing the current storm total between 2-5" of new snow. Along the 9000' ridgelines winds are blowing from the west at speeds of 15-20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph. At the 11,000' ridgelines, winds are gusting up to 40 mph.

Today, we can expect widespread snow as an upper trough moves through the region. Snowfall, varying from moderate to heavy, will continue in the afternoon and into the night, transitioning from southwesterly to northwesterly and eventually northerly flow. Skies will remain overcast, and temperatures will climb into the upper 20s and low 30s F. Winds will transition to become more northwesterly. At the 9000' ridgelines, winds will average 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph. At the 11,000' ridgelines winds will gust up to 35 mph. The mountains could get an additional 5-10" of new snow before 5 PM.

Outlook, The storm will gradually taper off late this evening into early tomorrow morning, potentially bringing the mountain snow totals up to 20 inches with up to 1.5 inches of water.

Prior to this storm, most of the southerly and westerly aspects were bone dry. The mid and upper elevation northerly aspects, however, held a mess of 12-20" of wind and temperature crusts interspersed with weak sugary snow (photo Kelly, Kelly, Grainger below). I would consider this a weak base for our snowpack. Remember, anytime there is enough snow to ride, there is enough snow to slide.