SNOWFALL FROM THE LAST STORM: 16 inches 02-13-06

AVERAGE SNOW DEPTH: 35-75 inches

SURFACE CONDITIONS: Natural & Manmade Powder&Frozen Granular

LIFTS OPEN: SLOPES OPEN: 7 19

TUBING IS OPEN with 4 lanes open.

We expect cloudy skies today with high temps in the 20's. Snow Showers began early this morning and are forecasted to continue through the day.

Weekend Snow Again

Snow is developing across the High Country this morning and will continue through early afternoon. Precipitation may begin briefly as sleet and even as rain at elevations below 3200'. Amounts will generally be on the light side--1"-3" but isolated slightly higher totals are possible for highest elevations right along the TN line. Skies become partly cloudy tonight and tomorrow. But another round of wintry weather is possible late Sunday night and Monday.

Saturday Hi: 28 Lo: 14

Cloudy with periods of snow ending by mid afternoon; Colder with nearly steady daytime temperatures; 1"-3" totals with isolated higher amounts up top; Decreasing clouds late; NW wind 5-15 mph, north 5-10 mph tonight

Sunday Hi: 25 Lo: 22

Partly cloudy & cold; More clouds late with light snow developing at night; North 5-10 mph

Monday Hi: 30 Lo: 26

Cloudy; Mostly AM light snow and sleet

Tuesday Hi: 33 Lo: 28

Lots of clouds; Wintry mix of precip possible

Wednesday Hi: 34 Lo: 29

Mostly cloudy; Chance of rain

Cold, arctic air overtook the High Country late Friday (a bit later than thought, but it got the job done). This fresh layer of dense cold air continues to ooze south especially in the lower levels of the atmosphere. The southward push of cold air will stall just to our south. Over the next several days, lows will move west to east across the Gulf Coast states throwing moist air over the top of this shallow dome of cold air. This is typical winter weather for Western NC. The result will be a few chances for wintery weahter--today, early Monday, Tuesday, and yet again Wednesday.

Today, snow is developing across the High Country. This is mostly a morning event. Expect snow amounts mostly in the 1"-3" range but a few higher amounts are possible at highest elevations (to 5"). Snow ends by mid afternoon and skies become partly cloudy tonight and during the day Sunday. But the next low passes to our south Monday with another chance of light snow late Sunday night and Monday. Round three comes Tuesday. Round four is Wednesday. However, temperatures will be marginal for round three and evening warmer for round four. So expect more rain with those two events. Thursday and Friday are expected to be drier and milder.