This morning, skies are overcast and snowing heavily in the mountains. The storm total thus far is between a trace amount to 2" of new snow. Mountain temperatures are sitting in the mid-20s to low 30s F. Along the mid-elevation ridgelines winds are blowing from the westsouth wst at speeds of 10-25 mph, with gusts near 20 mph. At the upper elevation ridgelines, winds are gusting up to 25 mph.

Today, there will be periods of heavy snow in the morning, tapering to showers in the afternoon. 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 mid-evation ridgelines, winds will average 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph. At the highest ridgelines winds will gust up to 35 mph. The mountains could get an additional 2-8" 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 10 inches with up to 1.0 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 5-10" of wind and temperature crusts interspersed with weak sugary snow. I would consider this a weak base for our snowpack. Remember, anytime there is enough snow to ride, there is enough snow to slide.

Photo of snowpack near Bald Mtn pass,Ted Scroggin below).