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 light NNE winds and a trace of snow over the last 24 hours. It is currently 30F in Mt. Shasta, 36F in Dunsmuir and 31F in McCloud Valley. Mt. Shasta - We are measuring 87 inches of snow on the ground below tree line with a trace to 1 inch of new snow over the last 24 hours. 2 inches of settlement were measured over the last 24 hours with 17 inches over the last 6 days. Temperatures have ranged between 14F to 30F at 7000 ft. and it is currently 14F. Winds this morning are estimated at 10 mph below tree line from the NE. Above tree line winds are estimated at 30-35 mph from the N and on the upper mountain winds are estimated at 60 mph from the NNW this morning. Castle/Mt. Eddy - Mt. Eddy received a trace to 1 inch of new snow and 2 inches of settlement in the last 24 hours. The snow has settled 12 inches over the last 6 days. We have 6 ft. of snow on the ground. The temperature on Mt. Eddy this morning is 20F. Temperatures near Castle Lake have been between 17-40F over the last 24 hours and currently are around 24F. Weather Forecast: High pressure over the eastern Pacific will continue to bring northerly winds to our area today with cool temperatures today and warming temperatures this week as it moves inland. No precipitation is expected through Friday. We will see clouds decreasing this morning and more sunshine. Temperatures below tree line will warm to the upper 30's to 40F with 10 mph winds from the NE and E. Above tree line, temperatures will warm into the mid 30's and winds will be 25 mph from the N, slowing today to 15 mph and moving to the NW tomorrow morning. On the upper mountain winds will be 60 mph this morning from the NNW and slow today to 35 mph in the afternoon and down to 20 mph tomorrow morning from the NW. Over the next 72 hours: Winds becoming light from the NW, temperatures will warm with temperature inversions and no precipitation expected. Snow Pack: Cold temperatures created some hard scraping yesterday on a firm and mostly supportive melt/freeze surface layer. Yesterday on a N aspect at 6000 ft. we found no failures during a Rutschblock stability test and good stability. With a trace to 1 inch of snow over the last 48 hours and strong north winds on the upper mountain, some small wind slabs have developed on southerly aspects. These should be fairly visible and will have a hollow sound. This morning we will have a thin layer of dust on crust and most likely the best conditions will be in open sunny areas at lower elevations with buttery corn snow developing on southerly aspects after lunch. 72 hour trend: Good stability is expected this week, but normal caution is still advised. Corn snow will move from the lower elevations to mid elevations with warming temperatures this week. Call in your observations! (530)926-9614 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! Please report weather and snow observations: (530)926-9614 Thanks! Pilgrim Creek Snowmobile Park: The Ash Creek Butte Loop was groomed on 2/26. The Five Red Flags of Avalanche Danger any time of year include: 1) Recent/current avalanche activity 2) Whumpfing sounds or shooting cracks 3) Recent/current heavy snowfall 4) Strong winds transporting snow 5) Rapid warming or rain on snow. Nick Meyers carrying his longboards at the competition, 2008. Climbing Ranger Nick Meyers studying the snow on Mt. Shasta, February, 2008. View from the Eddy's on 02/07/08. Nick Meyers, Mt. Shasta Climbing Ranger, at work and play this winter. Left: at the official Longboard competition. Center: Sargents Ridge snow pit, 2/10/08. Right: in the Eddys with Mt. Shasta in the background, 2/7/08. A big thanks to Nick whose winter work ended Saturday, 2/16/08!