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 92% 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 and one strong storm near the end 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. February snow surveys locally show our snow pack below tree line at around 107% of normal and water content 96% of normal. We are in a strong "La Nina" climate condition which often means wetter than normal winters in our area. However, expectations for precipitation in the spring of 2008 are uncertain, with equal chances of above or below normal. Weather Observations: We have partly cloudy skies in town this morning with very light NE winds, and it is currently 33F in Mt. Shasta, 40F in Dunsmuir and 27F in McCloud Valley. Mt. Shasta - We are measuring 90 inches of snow on the ground below tree line with no new snow over the last 4 days. 2 inches of settlement were measured over the last 24 hours with 13 inches over the last 4 days. Temperatures have ranged between 23F to a roasting 55F at 7000 ft. and it is currently 32F. Winds this morning are estimated at 15 mph below tree line from the SSW. Above tree line winds are estimated at 20-25 mph from the SW and on the upper mountain winds are estimated at 40-45 mph from the SW this morning. Castle/Mt. Eddy - Mt. Eddy received no new snow and 1 inches of settlement in the last 24 hours. The snow has settled 9 inches over the last 4 days. We have around 6 ft. of snow on the ground. The temperature on Mt. Eddy this morning is a baking 38F. Temperatures near Castle Lake have been between 25-56F over the last 24 hours and currently are around 27F. Weather Forecast: A storm is being torn apart as it crashes into the high pressure ridge which has brought warm and sunny weather to our area. It will focus up in BC and will bring increasing clouds today and light precipitation late this afternoon and tonight. Temperatures will cool quickly tonight and the snow level will begin at 6500 ft. and drop to 3000 ft. Saturday morning, with a trace to an inch of snow at mid and upper elevations. Saturday will begin cloudy with improving conditions later and into Sunday with high pressure rebuilding and warming temperatures and dry weather expected most of next week. By early tomorrow morning a strong NW jet stream will be overhead and will likely strip any new snow off the upper mountain. For today, we can expect increasing clouds with light snow fall late this afternoon above 6500 ft. Temperatures at low elevations will warm to the low 40's and drop into the 20's late tonight, while at mid elevations, temperatures will cool quickly this afternoon from the mid 30's to the mid 20's and down to the teens tomorrow morning. Winds today below tree line will be 15 mph from the SSW and increase this afternoon and evening to 25 mph from the SW. Above tree line winds will increase later today to 45 mph from the SW and move to the W tomorrow morning, slowing to 30-35 mph. On the upper mountain winds will be 45-55 mph from the SW today and increase this evening to 75-80 mph from the WSW. These upper elevation winds will stay around 80 mph tonight but move to the W and then the NW tomorrow morning and continue at 80 mph. Snow Pack: We have had a lot of settlement and stabilization of the snow pack during these warm and sunny days after last weekend's strong storm. Sluffs and rollers have occurred at mid and lower elevations. With a short, fast and weak cold front moving in later today, things will stay cool and the snow will stay firm at mid and upper elevations. The increasing winds will also help to keep mid and upper elevation snow firm and much more stable than the last few days. The best conditions will be at lower elevations, following the sun on southerly exposures. Small wind slabs will develop by tomorrow morning on N and E aspects at mid and upper elevations. 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!