0600 wx. at 6350′ in Carnelian Bay: 30.0 deg. / 29.3 deg. dew point / 97% RH / overcast with light snow / 14″ new snow in 24 hours / storm total: 20″

Weather and forecast thoughts:

Snowfall rates have moderated, temps. cooled, and skies are slowly lightening as of late morning (2/14), but not before dropping 20″ of heavy, dense snow in Carnelian Bay.

Last night temps rose yet again above freezing, before dropping around 2200. Snow showers continued through the night, adding another 4-6″ atop nearly a foot of heavy, wet snow.

For the rest of today, light snow showers will dot the Tahoe Basin dropping negligible accumulations. Along the Sierra Crest and in higher terrain, a few more inches may fall before skies clear in the late afternoon. Tonight will be quite cold with backcountry temps in the single digits and teens, which should set the snowpack on a stabilizing trend, especially within new, dense storm snow.

The coming weekend will be much calmer with cool temps (20s to 30s) above 7000′ under a mix of clouds and sunshine. Sun and Mon (2/26-17) a few weak systems skirting the Sierra to the north could kick off some light snow showers and increased SW breezes.

All in all, it should be a great weekend for exploring and playing in the mountains.