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 87% 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 high clouds and calm winds in town this morning. It is currently 34F in Mt. Shasta, 39F in Dunsmuir and 29F in McCloud Valley. Mt. Shasta - We are measuring 82 inches of snow on the ground below tree line with no new snow over the last 24 hours and 1 inch of settlement in the snow pack. Temperatures have ranged between 24F to a toasty 43F at 7000 ft. and it is currently 26F. Winds this morning are estimated at 5 mph below tree line from the S. At and above tree line winds are estimated at 15-20 mph from the W and on the upper mountain winds are estimated at 25-30 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. We have 69 inches of snow on the ground. The temperature on Mt. Eddy this morning is a warm 35F. Temperatures near Castle Lake have been between 27-51F over the last 24 hours and currently are around 33F. Measurements in the atmosphere this morning show temperatures 6 degrees warmer than yesterday morning. Weather Forecast: The trend over the next week is for storms to focus in Oregon, Washington and BC with the bottom end brushing through Northern California and breaks in between storms with no major storms on the horizon. Today: Mostly sunny weather is expected with some high clouds and warm air moving in. Temperatures below tree line will warm into the mid 40's with low elevation areas reaching the mid to upper 50's. Winds below tree line will be light from the SE to SW, increasing tomorrow morning to 15 mph from the S. Above tree line temperatures will warm to the low to upper 30's with 10 mph winds from the NW, moving later today to the SW. On the upper mountain, winds will be 20-30 mph from the NW, moving to the SW this afternoon and increasing to 45 mph. Tomorrow morning winds will increase to 65 mph from the W. Monday-Wednesday: A cold front will bring a few inches of snow Monday night and Tuesday morning with the snow level starting at 7500 ft. and decreasing to 3500 - 4000 ft. Winds will begin increasing Tuesday and become strong above tree line through Wednesday from the NW. Snow Pack: The snow pack has settled and strengthened significantly over the last two weeks with spring-like weather. With warm air moving in today, good corn snow conditions will be found at low and mid elevations. By afternoon, lower elevations could become sloppy and although glide avalanches are very hard to predict, they will be more vulnerable during the warmest times of the day. Many glide cracks exist in the Castle Crags area and should be avoided. 72 hour trend: Although we will only get a few inches of snow Monday and Tuesday, the strong NW winds which will follow, will create wind slabs 1-4 feet deep on S and E aspects and these will be a concern through Wednesday. 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: Pilgrim to Deer Mnt. on the 19 road was groomed 3/8. Thanks to the Mt. Shasta Ski Park & Ski Patrol, Backcountry Access, Friends of the Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center and the Forest Service for great Beacon Basin days this season at the Ski Park! Ski Patrol training with an avalanche beacon at the Mt. Shasta Beacon Basin, 3/8/08 Ski Patrol training with an avalanche beacon at the Mt. Shasta Beacon Basin, 3/8/08. Pro Ski Patrol, Jenn Carr, trains with her avalanche transceiver at the Mt. Shasta Beacon Basin, March 8, 2008. 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!