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 91% of normal since September 1. January brought several heavy and cold snow storms with mostly dry and warm weather during the first half of February. Snow pack at lower elevations is above normal, near normal at tree line, and below normal above tree line due to wind scouring. January 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 moderate snow fall in town this morning with 6 to 7 inches of new snow, and it is currently 34F in Mt. Shasta, 33F in Dunsmuir and 33F in McCloud Valley. Mt. Shasta - We are measuring 92 inches of snow on the ground below tree line with 9 inches of new snow over the last 24 hours and 18 inches over the last 3 days. Little settlement was measured over the last 24 hours. Temperatures have ranged between 22F to 26F at 7000 ft. and it is currently 25F. Winds this morning are estimated at 15 mph below tree line from the SE. Above tree line winds are estimated at 40 mph from the S and on the upper mountain winds are estimated at 40 mph from the SW this morning. Castle/Mt. Eddy - Mt. Eddy received 10 inches of new snow and 7 inches of settlement in the last 24 hours. We have around 6.5 ft. of snow on the ground. The temperature on Mt. Eddy this morning is 26F. Temperatures near Castle Lake have been between 26-31F over the last 24 hours and currently are around 29F. I estimate 12 inches of new snow at Castle Lake over the last 24 hours. Weather Forecast: The vortex of the storm is poised just off the northern California coast and will move onshore into SW Oregon later today. We will see things pick up a little bit later this morning with snowfall becoming heavy again and winds increasing at low and mid elevations. The snow level will rise to around town level today (3500 ft.) and fluctuate between 3500 and 4500 ft. later today and this evening. Snow will begin tapering this afternoon and should be finished up by tomorrow morning bringing another 8-12 inches during the day at mid elevations. Temperatures at lower elevations will hover around freezing today and in the mid to upper 20's at mid elevations. Winds below tree line will be from the S at 30-35 mph with stronger gusts, slowing this evening and moving to the SW. Above tree line, winds will be 40-50 mph from the SW with gusts to 60 mph and then slow down by midnight to 20 mph and move to the NW. On the upper mountain winds will be 35-40 mph from the SW and move to the NW by tomorrow morning with a few hours of strong NW winds of 60-80 mph as the jet stream passes through between 1-4 am. Snow Pack: Yesterday we were seeing periods of heavy snowfall and continued wind loading to northerly aspects. During tests at 5500 ft on a NE aspect we were seeing failures fairly easily in the most recent snow with failures under moderate force on the strong crust which formed during the two weeks of dry and warm weather in February. Most failures were occurring on lower density snow which had not been affected by the wind. The slabs however were dense and wind affected. We also had reports of heavy wind loading, shooting cracks and wind slabs on northerly aspects above us. With some more heavy snow fall today and strong winds, this will continue to add a lot of stress to the snowpack and the avalanche danger will increase. Natural avalanches will likely occur, especially in steeper, wind loaded areas, but things will become very sensitive on most aspects and at all elevations above 4000 ft. The best conditions will be on slopes less than 30 degrees without steeper terrain above. Avoid cornices which will be sensitive today. Safe travel and route finding will be important today. 72 Hour Trend: NW winds early tomorrow morning above tree line will begin loading S and E aspects. High pressure this week will help to settle and consolidate the new snow and the avalanche danger will be decreasing into the week. 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!