By Eric White The Details: This Season: Our season started late and has had higher winds than normal above tree line. Our precipitation is around 93% of normal since September 1. January brought several heavy and cold snow storms. Snow pack at lower elevations is well above normal, near normal at tree line, and below normal above tree line due to wind scouring. Recent snow surveys locally show our snow pack below tree line at around 137% of normal. We are in a "La Nina" climate condition which often means wetter than normal winters in our area and expectations are for above normal precipitation into the spring of 2008. Weather Observations: We have clear skies and calm winds in town this morning, and it is currently 29F in Mt. Shasta, 33F in Dunsmuir and 21F in McCloud Valley. Mt. Shasta - We are measuring 83 inches of snow on the ground below tree line with no new snow over the last 12 days. The snow has settled 2 inches over the last 24 hours and 26 inches over the 12 days. Temperatures have ranged between 23F to a searing 54F at 7000 ft. and it is currently baking at 41F. Winds this morning are estimated at 5 mph below tree line from the NW. Above tree line winds are estimated at 30 mph from the NW and on the upper mountain winds are estimated at 35-40 mph from the NW this morning. Castle/Mt. Eddy - Mt. Eddy received no new snow and 1 inch of settlement in the last 24 hours, with 28 inches of settlement over the last 12 days. We estimate around 6 ft. of snow on the ground. The temperature on Mt. Eddy this morning is a roasting 38F. Temperatures near Castle Lake have been between 22-60F over the last 24 hours and currently are around 26F. Weather Forecast: High pressure continues to dominate our weather through this Holiday weekend, bringing sunny skies and warm temperatures. Things will change on Tuesday when the first of a series of storms arrives, starting warm and weak and cooling down and strengthening through the week. For today, we can expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures at low elevations warming into the mid 50's to 60F and mid 40's to 50F at mid elevations. Winds below tree line will be light and variable today. Above tree line winds will be 20 mph from the NW, slowing tonight to 10-15 mph and moving to the NNE. On the upper mountain, winds will be 35 mph from the NW, slowing to 25 mph this evening and down to 20 mph from the NW tomorrow morning. Snow Pack: The snow pack has settled dramatically and become more stable over the last two weeks. However, isolated areas of instability exist with wet slabs possible at lower elevations and wind slabs above tree line, so don't let your guard down in this spring-like weather. Temperatures warmed quite a bit yesterday and have stayed warm through the night with the exceptions of cold sinks in basins. With temperatures beginning so warm this morning, some areas at lower elevations will become slushy with small wet slabs possible. If you find yourself sinking into your boot tops in wet snow, look for low angle terrain without steeper terrain above. With the road opening this morning, a lot of people will be heading up to mid elevations where the snow is fairly rough due to wind sculpting. Older, dense Wind slabs exist on easterly and southerly aspects and will become more sensitive during the warmest parts of the day. Continue to be observant for signs of changing conditions as temperatures warm today. Some important thoughts: This advisory does not apply to Ski Areas or Highways and is for the Mt. Shasta, Castle Lake and Mt. Eddy back country. Use this information for guidance only. You may find different conditions in the backcountry and should travel accordingly. This advisory expires at midnight tonight. As always, use safe travel practices: travel with a partner, travel one at a time in suspect areas, go from one island of safety to another, choose safe routes, wear a transceiver, carry a shovel and probe, and know how to use your gear! Pilgrim Creek Snowmobile Park: Stephen's pass was groomed 2/12. Deer Mnt. and Ash Creek Butte were groomed 2/14.