SNOWFALL WITHIN THE LAST 24 HOURS: 7 inches

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

AVERAGE SNOW DEPTH: 40-80 inches

SURFACE CONDITIONS: Natural & Manmade Powder

LIFTS OPEN: SLOPES OPEN: 6 15

TUBING IS OPEN with 6 lanes open.

Snow Over; Mild Up Begins Tuesday

The High Country experienced about 60 hours of snow. Our reports indicate most of the area picked up between 5" to 9", but western upslope regions near the TN line had 9"-20" with the highest amounts above 4500'. (Three feet of snow may have fallen in the Smokies.) That's a bit above our earliest forecast but in line with the forecast amounts given Sunday. Snow showers and flurries ended this afternoon. Tonight will be cold especially in the valleys. A gradual mild-up begins Tuesday. But... could we get snow two weekends in a row?

Monday Hi: 24 Lo: 17

Mostly clear and cold overnight; West wind 15-25 mph and gusty

Tuesday Hi: 39 Lo: 25

Mostly clear & not as cold; WSW wind 10-20 mph with gusts to 35 mph

Wednesday Hi: 45 Lo: 31

Clear to partly cloudy; A notably milder afternoon

Thursday Hi: 47 Lo: 35

Partly sunny daytime; More clouds at night with a chance for late-night light rain; Continued on the mild side

Friday Hi: 43 Lo: 25

Mostly cloudy; Chance of light rain during the day

We advertised this as a 2-part storm: Part I Saturday underperformed (as low pressure moved across the Southeast), but Part II (the NW flow event) more than made up for the anemic first half. If it were football season, I'd say we were down by two touchdowns in the middle of the second quarter, tied at half-time, and won by four touchdowns.

Snow showers ended this afternoon as the Eastern US trough began to lift out and our airflow became more westerly. Things change quickly this week as temperatures moderate Tuesday through Thursday.

By Thursday big battle lines are drawn across the US. A front will lie from NY to TX with polar air to the north of the front and very mild air to the south. Low pressure will cut through the Midwest (near Chicago by Thursday evening) and begin the push that will drive the colder air south and east. A front comes through the High Country Friday and temperatures will be falling in the Friday PM hours.

Along the tail end of this front in TX another low is expected, tracking along the Southeast this weekend. Light snow is possible in the High Country Saturday as moisture associated with this low slides east with just enough cold air in place over the NW NC Mountains. There's still many questions about the weekend but this is our current best estimate. Sunday is partly cloudy and chilly.