Mother Nature Delivers the Concrete

Twenty-four hour totals at the Alta-Collins automated observing site added up to 1.79" of water and 15" of snow, yielding a mean water content of 12%.  Snowbasin-Boardwalk came in with 1.26"/8"/16%.  As evidence of the wet, windy, and rimey nature of the storm, I couldn't verify our 70 mph forecast for Mt. Baldy because the sensor rimed and is no longer spinning.  The Utah Avalanche Center report this morning says that "at 11,000 feet the wind is absolutely ripping, with sustained speeds at 50–60 mph with gusts pushing into the upper 70s."  That's good enough for me.  

The Alta-Collins snowstake photo this morning is one of the most comical I've ever seen.  Dense snow apparently carved by wind?  Perhaps with the flow wrapping around the Alta sign?  Who knows.  Come up with your own explanation.  

Snowfall at lower elevations is certainly lower and probably a soggy mess between 6000 and 7000 feet (or higher), but that's just a guess.  

The Cottonwoods might get a bit before things taper down later this morning.  The extended forecast shows that you should continue to root for America.  The European Ensemble (ENS) is giving Alta practically nothing after today.  The American (GEFS) is more generous around the middle of the work week.   

USA. USA. USA.