Global Warming

[Soldier4Christ]

Green police: Knock-on effect - Essential surveillance kit for the new green police: the Energy Saving Partnership has taken out a patent on Heatseekers, thermo-imaging vehicles which, at full potential, have the capacity to identify 1,000 properties an hour, or 5,000 properties a night, that are leaking carbon. "Once the property has been scanned, a dedicated team of energy advisers will visit householders to show them the thermal image scan of their homes," says Inspector Knock-on-the-Door. That'll go down well after midnight.

__________

The Knock-on effect will be sure to be met by the Knock-out effect.

[Soldier4Christ]

Brisbane has coldest October morning since 1976 - 23 Oct 08 - Cold winds blowing up from the snow-capped Blue Mountains have given Brisbane its coldest October morning in 32 years.

The mercury fell to 10.6 degrees in the City, more than five degrees below average for this time of year. The previous low for October was 7.3 degrees in 1976. Brisbane recorded 6.3 degrees in October in 1899 at a now-disused weather station.

Amberley had an even colder start waking up to 6C and Stanthorpe shivered on just two degrees.

Record cold snap brings snow to Australia - 22 Oct 08 - Record cold temperatures have brought snow to the Blue Mountains and southern tablelands in NSW and wet and windy weather to the state's coast.

Temperatures dipped to three degrees celsius near Blackheath, west of Sydney, early this morning and pockets of snow fell in Leura and west of Katoomba at Oberon. Snow was also reported in the southern tablelands at Cooma and in Bombala, near the Victorian border. 

Bureau of Merology (BoM) forecaster Jane Golding said average temperatures in the Blue Mountains for October ranged from seven to 18 degrees.

In Sydney today, the temperature is forecast to be 15 degrees, an October temperature which has only been seen twice in the past 14 years, Ms Golding said. Average maximum temperatures for Sydney in October are around 22 degrees.

Early snowfall across Ontario  - 22 Oct 08 - "Torontonians should do their best not to curse out old man winter because he's here early. It's been one of those years. Spring was slow to leave, summer was late in arriving and now a taste of winter is here while it's still officially autumn.

"If you can believe it, six centimetres of snow fell on the ground in Orillia. Meantime, snowfall was being reported across southern Ontario, flurries came down in parts of Toronto and York region and there were white-out conditions further north into the Barrie area and cottage."

[Soldier4Christ]

Record low temperatures in 10 states!

Oct 23

Rome, OR  Breaks old record of 20 set in 1980                    15
Caribou, ME   Breaks old record of 21 set in 1982                 20
Winslow, AZ                                                                         21 tie
Traverse City, MI  Breaks old record of 24 set in 1976          22
Grand Junction, CO  Breaks old record of 26 set in 1996      23
Hilo, HI                                                                                 64 tie
Childress, TX                                                                        34 tie
Seattle, WA                                                                         39 tie
Bountiful, UT                                                                       28 tie
Burley, ID                                                                            21 tie
Idaho Falls, ID  Breaks old record of 18 set in 1958              17
Challis, ID                                                                            17 tie
Pendleton, OR                                                                     29 tie
Union, OR  Breaks previous record of 20 set in 1980           17
Walla Walla, WA                                                                  32 tie

Oct 24

Montague, CA                                                                     26
Traverse City, MI  Breaks old record of 24 set in 1976         22
Islip, NY  31 tie                                                                    31 tie
Pocatello, ID  Ties previous record set in 1949                    18 tie


Considering that many weather recording stations today have been shown to be modified in manners (blacktop/cement pads under them, A/C units placed near them, etc) that has caused them to record higher temps I would say that there were possibly many more record lows that were broken.


BBC predictions into next week are predicting conditions for cold snow into the European Alps.

If correct, there will be:

      1. A massive blocking high in the mid-Atlantic.

      2. Several fronts coming down straight from the north becoming occluded over the Alps and penetrating right down to north Africa (always a good sign that a front has sufficient power to deposit snow in reams).

      3. Temperatures predicted to drop over 10 celcius in 24 hours when that happens.

We'll see what happens, but end of October is very early for snow down in the valleys of Switzerland. It happens, but not very often.

Could be the second year in a row with significant snowfall late October/early November at low altitude.

[HisDaughter]

Al Gore is a disgrace.

[Soldier4Christ]

We have record lows tonight and it is snowing. It's only October and we have snow already. That hasn't happened in a whole lot of years.

[Soldier4Christ]

Blizzards forecast as temperature set to drop lower than Siberia
... no wonder the swans are staying there

Britain is about to be hit by a
chilly blast that will leave some temperatures colder than Siberia.

The freezing weather will bring blizzards of sleet and snow to northern areas of Britain and
in some parts of Scotland the temperature will drop to -8c tonight.

The chilly forecast follows the revelation that there has been no sign of hundreds of
Bewick's swans that were due to return to an English nature reserve.

Each year the swans land at Slimbridge having completed the 1,864-round-trip from Russia.

Met Office forecaster Barry Grommet said: 'There could be quite a lot of snow over
the northern hills across Scotland predominantly, but we must not rule out places like
Snowdonia and the moors of north-east England.


Cold weather and temperatures typical of December in UK and US
- Heavy snow expected

 Both the UK and parts of the USA have been hit by cold weather and temperatures typical of December, with many places in the UK seeing an afternoon high of only 6C (43F), a temperature common to the December and January months.

The Met Office issued many warnings today for heavy snow across parts of northern Scotland- Orkney, Shetland, Grampian and parts of the highlands.

Parts of North America have also been hit by wintry weather, with Fargo, North Dakota, breaking its previous record for snowfall at this time of year. Around 1.4 inches (36mm) of snow fell in just 12 hours on Sunday.



Snow forecast in Ireland - “More suited for the first week of December,
not the last week of October”

“An early blast of winter is set to hit Ireland early next week. This is quite unusual as Ireland on average gets her first air frost around October 23rd. The following forecast is from the national weather service (http://www.met.ie/) issued at 5am UTC on Sunday 26th October. This forecast would be more suited for the first week of December, not the last week of October.

FORECAST:  Monday will be cold and blustery, with a mixture of sunshine and showers. … Some of the showers will fall as hail or sleet, with a risk of snow on high ground in northern areas. Highest temperatures will range from 6 to 9 degrees…
MONDAY NIGHT: Very cold with a sharp ground frost. There will be good clear spells, but a scattering of wintry showers also, these mainly affecting coastal counties of the southwest, west and north.
TUESDAY: Very cold, in a fresh and gusty northerly wind. … risk of snow on the very highest ground.… A sharp frost will set in after dark.

[Soldier4Christ]

First October snow in London in 74 years One man was killed and thousands were left without power today after inches of snow fell across the country overnight.

Even London was hit by a light dusting last night - the first time the capital has seen snow in October since 1934. 

Other areas of the South-East, including Hertfordshire, just 20 miles out of London, were covered in a thick blanket of snow. The last time it snowed in the region in October was 1974.

In some areas, the conditions were so bad that league football matches had to be called off or abandoned after kick-off.

The Met Office's John Hammond said: 'October started like summer and is ending like winter.'


Heavy snow in Tibet – Rare for this time of year - 29 Oct 08 – “Heavy snowstorms have hit eastern Tibet over the last few days, worsening the situation for survivors of the earthquake earlier this month. Temperatures plummeted as snow started falling on Sunday.

“At least two people are reported to have died and many more are missing. Snowfalls have blocked roads, caused avalanches and led to widespread power cuts.

“Heavy snowstorms are rare for this part of Tibet in October, and temperatures are unseasonably cold. In Lhasa, the regional capital, the average maximum temperature in October is 17C (63F), but yesterday the high was just 8C (46F).”

[Soldier4Christ]

7 killed in Tibet’s ‘worst snowstorm’. Record Snows in Switzerland, Britain.

At least seven people have been found dead after ”the worst snowstorm on record in Tibet,” China’s state-run news agency reported Friday. About 1,350 people were rescued in Lhunze County—another 300 were trapped—after nearly five feet (1.5 meters) of snow blanketed much of Tibet this week. The storm caused buildings to collapse, blocked roads and killed about 144,000 head of cattle, the state-run China Daily newspaper reported. The seven people who died either froze to death or were killed as a result of collapsing buildings, and one person is still missing, China Daily said. The BBC added: Heavy snowstorms have hit eastern Tibet over the last few days, worsening the situation for survivors of the earthquake earlier this month. Temperatures plummeted as snow started falling on Sunday.

At least two people are reported to have died and many more are missing. Snowfalls have blocked roads, caused avalanches and led to widespread power cuts. Thousands of people have been living in tents or temporary shelters since the earthquake on 6th October. Relief materials including food and blankets are flooding into the area. Heavy snowstorms are rare for this part of Tibet in October, and temperatures are unseasonably cold. In Lhasa, the regional capital, the average maximum temperature in October is 17C (63F), but yesterday the high was just 8C (46F). The wet season for Tibet is generally March to September, so should be soon coming to an end.

Record snow storm in Switzerland - The most snow for any October since records began in 1931 - 30 Oct 08 - A heavy, wet snow snapped trees, which fell across tracks and roads. The most affected regions included Zurich, Schaffhausen in the north and the areas around the Gotthard pass in central Switzerland.`Farmers in the Bernese Oberland also awoke to snow-related problems. Damaged fences allowed their cows to wander freely.`According to MeteoNews, the Swiss lowlands received the most snow for any October since records began in 1931. Zurich received 20cm, beating a record of 14cm set in 1939.

Meanwhile first October snow fell in London in 74 years as Arctic blast swept across UK. One man was killed and thousands were left without power today after inches of snow fell across the country overnight. Just two days after the end of British Summertime, the first snowfall of the year saw a lorry driver killed when his vehicle collided with another lorry on the M40 in Buckinghamshire. Tonnes of lard being carried in one of the lorries was left strewn over all six lanes of the motorway causing long delays. But thousands of homes were without power in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire after two inches of snow damaged high voltage cables in temperatures of minus 4C. The icy conditions also brought chaos to the roads across the South, Midlands and East Anglia. And commuter trains ground to a halt when snow fell off overhanging branches onto the lines. While the wintry dusting soon vanished in Wednesday’s sunshine and showers, more snow was forecast for Wales last night. The last time snow settled on London in October, Britain was in the midst of an economic depression, the prime minister was losing his grip on power and Spurs were at the start of a season that would see them relegated from top flight football. While the capital woke to its first October blanketing since 1934, the rest of the South had its first pre-Halloween snowfalls since the 1970s. The unseasonal flurries, caused by a blast of air from the Arctic, were welcomed by millions of children in the middle of their half-term holidays.

[Soldier4Christ]

NOAA: U.S. breaks or ties 115 cold and sets 63 new snowfall records

Of course many of you that live in this weather already know this, but there is an early start to winter this year, not only in the USA, but also in London, where it snowed in October for the first time in over 70 years.

So far, no mention of this broadly distributed U.S. record event in the mainstream media. There are a few individual mentions or record lows in Florida. See this Google News search.

Here, from NOAA’s  National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), is a list of these new or tied records for October 29th, 2008.

I find the -25 below in Alaska interesting, since it bested the old record by 4 degrees.

Here are the 115 new or tied low temperature records:

The table below has been formatting to fit the blog, Here is a direct link to the original data from NCDC

See the following link for the rest of the data:

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/10/30/chill-in-the-air-part-2-us-breaks-or-ties-115-of-cold-and-sets-63-new-snowfall-records/#more-3883

[Soldier4Christ]

Hailstorm swamps small town in 6-foot drifts
'There was a river of ice coming down the street. It was a total freak of nature'

These astonishing scenes are the aftermath of a deluge of hailstones that buried a town in a river of ice.

Ottery St Mary, in Devon, was plunged into chaos by the storm in the early hours yesterday.

First, the area was battered by an astonishing 12in of hail in just two hours. This blocked drains, which led to widespread flooding as the rain began to fall.

More than 100 people had to be evacuated from their homes and 25 were airlifted to safety or rescued by firefighters.

After a day of heavy rain on Wednesday more than three inches of rain and hail fell between 6pm and 8am yesterday morning.

The Met Office said the 'hugely localised' weather system was less than 4 miles across and seemed ' to be centred on Ottery St Mary'.

The most severe weather hit just after midnight on Thursday but by 5am the entire town was cut off and coastguards scrambled helicopters to airlift residents.

Emergency services were inundated with calls from terrified home owners who watched helplessly as flood water rose to 5ft high in some places, and there were fears that hundreds of animals may have been killed in the floods.

Residents in Ottery St Mary said the town was unrecognisable after the hail storm..

Sarah Galliford said: 'I was woken up by the sound of hailstones thundering down on the roof. I thought it was the end of the world. I looked outside at about 1am and there was a river of ice coming down the street. It was a total freak of nature. It wasn't even on the weather forecast. They said there would be rain but nothing like this. It was absolutely crazy.'

Clara Pedmore added: 'There is 2ft 6ins of water on the road. I can't get out of the house.One farm nearby has lost about 500 sheep which were out in fields which are now completely underwater.'

Emergency crews also sent in jeeps and fire appliances and boats to take residents to an evacuation centre at the local hospital.

Tony Fabry, who runs the town's post office, said: 'At one point I was watching beer barrels, sandwich boards and even a children's slide floating down the road.

 'It was absolutely horrendous. It was a nightmare and it happened so quickly. The drains became blocked with hail and so when the snow melted it was just a deluge.'

David Garland, whose home was completely flooded, said: 'It happened in a matter of minutes and all of a sudden the whole house was deluged. I didn't have time to save anything at all because it happened so quickly. Everything was ruined.'

Fire crews rescued an elderly couple at 10.30am who were stranded on the roof of their car. The two pensioners had scrambled on top of their vehicle after they became trapped and the car started to quickly fill with water.

Susanne Reed from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: 'It has been absolute chaos. It started just after midnight when we were out rescuing people stuck in their cars in flood water. It got worse and worse and one of our own crews got stuck in a 6ft hail drift. We have been rescuing people constantly.' 

The Environment Agency said an 'unforeseeable and freakish' combination of factors had led to the extreme conditions in Ottery St Mary.

A spokesman said the area was 'pelted' by extremely heavy hail and rain which triggered the floods and bizarre ice-logged landscape.

He said: 'What we've seen is a very unusual combination of extreme weather - and circumstances that were unforeseeable and freakish. The heavy hail and rain seem to have solidified into what looks more like snow than anything else - it is not the normal sort of hail you would encounter.

'This is likely to have contributed to the problem by blocking drains and culverts along with other debris.'

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service added: 'Around 1ft of hail fell in just two hours between 1am and 3am. Cars in the town were left tightly packed in ice and the drains were blocked meaning the water had nowhere to go.

The surrounding villages of Awliscombe, Rockbeare and Newton were also affected.

An evacuation centre was set up at Ottery St Mary Hospital, where people who were flooded out of their homes received care and shelter.

Police say scores of minor roads in East Devon were closed by landslips, standing water or flood damage and motorists were urged not to make journeys.

The town had been preparing for a carnival this weekend, ahead of its annual Tar Barrel Rolling festival on 5 November - but its bonfire was flooded out.

___________


The House of Commons debated Global Warming during this time. The Climate Change Bill pledges the UK to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. The bill creates an enormous bureaucratic apparatus for monitoring and reporting, which was expanded at the last minute.

[Soldier4Christ]

A MAJOR WINTER STORM SYSTEM FOR NORTH DAKOTA...

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA WILL MOVE TO CENTRAL MINNESOTA BY FRIDAY. THIS SLOW MOVING STORM WILL BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA TONIGHT ... THURSDAY ... AND THURSDAY NIGHT. SIX TO TWELVE INCHES OF SNOW...WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...AND VISIBILITIES NEAR ZERO ARE LIKELY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM.

DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER WILL ALSO STRIKE NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT... WITH 4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW...WINDS TO 40 MPH AND GREATLY REDUCED VISIBILITIES. THESE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY MOVE EAST INTO THE JAMES RIVER AREA THURSDAY.

TRAVEL WILL LIKELY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE IN THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL BY DAYBREAK THURSDAY.

PLEASE RECONSIDER TRAVEL PLANS AND MAKE OTHER PREPARATIONS FOR THE STORM. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.
 Nebraska had approximately 56 cooling degree days during September 2008.  The state normally has 96 cooling degree days during that month which indicates that the weather was 42 percent cooler than normal for September.

BARROW, AK RECORDED 23.2 INCHES OF SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH...THIS BREAKS THE ALL TIME MONTHLY RECORD OF 21.2 INCHES SET BACK IN OCTOBER 1925.

THE MONTHLY SNOW TOTAL WAS MORE THAN 3 TIMES THE NORMAL OF 7.4 INCHES OF SNOW FOR THE MONTH...THERE WAS 1 INCH OR MORE OF SNOW ON 7 DAYS DURING THE MONTH...MORE THEN FOUR TIMES THE NORMAL OF 1.6 DAYS...THERE WAS AT LEAST A TRACE OF SNOWFALL ON ALL 31 DAYS OF THE MONTH WITH MEASURABLE SNOW ON 28 OF THOSE DAYS.

[Soldier4Christ]

Blizzard warning now extended into South Dakota

The Rapid City, SD area is under a blizzard warning. Rapid City had a blizzard back on May 2nd and now one on November 5th. Six months between blizzards. Amazing isn't it? That makes for a long snow season.

[Soldier4Christ]

Blizzard blasts the Plains; parts of I-90 closed

The season's first major blizzard pounded the Dakotas and parts of Wyoming and Nebraska Thursday with wind gusts approaching 80 mph.

Schools were shut down, highways closed and power was knocked out across the region.

In western South Dakota, blizzard conditions prompted the closing of a section of Interstate 90, and no-travel advisories were in effect in several counties.

Strong winds and heavy snowfall "are causing near zero visibility in some areas," said Capt. Kevin Karley of the South Dakota Highway Patrol.

Wind gusts of 78 mph were reported in Rapid City, S.D., and 38.5 inches of snow had fallen on nearby Deadwood, S.D., according to a blizzard warning issued by the National Weather Service.

"It's nasty," said Zane "Grizz" Holcomb, who operates a buffalo ranch southeast of Camp Crook, S.D., in the state's northwest corner. "Nobody's moving unless they have to."

Whiteout conditions are likely over much of the state Thursday, according to the weather service.

A 180-mile stretch of Interstate 90 — the main east-west route across South Dakota — was closed from Murdo to the Wyoming state line.

A snowcat — a tank-like vehicle that runs on tracks — was being used to rescue motorists stranded on the highway, Karley said.

"So far, we've been able to get to the people who are stranded," he said. "We're slowly working to get those people to safety."

Karley didn't know the exact number of motorists rescued but said it was in the dozens. "We've got zero sight distance," he said. "When we're out on the highway, we can't see."

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety was warning motorists not to travel on any roads in seven counties: Lawrence, Butte, Meade, Jackson, Jones, Custer and Pennington, which includes Rapid City, the state's second-largest city.

The high winds whipping the snow around were creating the whiteout conditions and making travel treacherous as the storm pushed east, said Philip Schumacher, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls.

The city was expecting far less snow than areas to the west, around 1 to 3 inches, Schumacher said.

"For Sioux Falls, we're expecting precipitation to change over to snow after the evening rush hour," he said.

Blizzard warnings also were issued for parts of North Dakota, including the city of Bismarck.

In Dunn County, in the southwestern part of the state, road foreman Eldon Rohde said the wind was blowing about 40 mph and estimated about 4 inches of snow had already piled up by Thursday morning.

Hunters were hoping the weather wouldn't damper the start of deer season, which starts Friday, said Dean Evanson, owner of Dean's Meat Market in Dickinson, N.D.

"It's almost like a national holiday up here when deer season starts," he said.

Many hunters have already taken vacation time for the hunt, Evanson said.

Evanson said he was keeping his business open and tried to remain optimistic. "It could be a lot worse," he said.

Nebraska Public Power District said more than 2,600 customers in the town of Scottsbluff lost their electricity Wednesday. More than 1,100 were still without power Thursday morning.

A line failure northwestern Nebraska also cut power to the small town of Pine Ridge, S.D., just across the state line. About 1,250 customers there were without power Wednesday night.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the northwest corner of Nebraska. Wind with gusts up to 60 mph were forecast, along with snowfall of up to 5 inches.

In Wyoming, Chester Hejde, 78, said the storm is close to the worst he's seen in his lifetime.

"A neighbor drove over here and he says he didn't know where he was, and he's lived here all his life," said Hejde, who operates the Bunkhouse Bed and Breakfast about 20 miles northeast of Sundance, Wyo. "We're just socked in here."

[Soldier4Christ]

Flood warnings in effect for three rivers; rain keeps falling

Rain continues to fall in the Seattle area this morning and flood warnings are in effect for the Skokomish, Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers. Flood watches were issued for other rivers around Puget Sound.

Rain continues to fall in the Seattle area this morning and flood warnings are in effect for the Skokomish, Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers.

Flood watches were issued for other rivers around Puget Sound.

The National Weather Service said periods of heavy rainfall are expected through tonight.

In the Seattle region, temperatures are expected to reach a high of 57 degrees today, with a low of 50. The forecast predicts a 70 percent chance of rain for Saturday with temperatures reaching a high of 55 degrees.

More than an inch or rain fell Thursday in Seattle and a low-pressure system that stalled over Western Washington is expected to continue to bring more rain.

Meteorologists say the wet weather should come as no surprise.

"This is the time of year, and it's not unusual at all," said meteorologist Dennis D'Amico in the National Weather Service's Seattle office.

The flood warnings were issued for Snoqualmie, Tolt and Skokomish rivers, but no flooding has been reported as of early this morning.

The Weather Service warned that fallen leaves combined with heavy rains can clog street drains, increasing the chance of flooding in low areas in Western Washington cities.

Boaters and beachgoers in Western Washington were advised to use extreme caution through Monday in light of the wet and potentially hazardous weather predictions. According to the Weather Service, swollen rivers can contain dangerous debris.

The Coast Guard on Thursday issued a recommendation for vessel owners to check moorings and secure vessels for bad weather. Heavy rains can flood boats and even cause sinking in extreme cases. Boats should be protected and adequately covered when moored to prevent flooding.

The Coast Guard also advises boaters and beachgoers to check weather forecasts before heading out and to be aware that storms can come up quickly and without warning. Sudden, powerful waves can engulf an entire beach, knocking people down or throwing them violently against nearby rocks. Once in the water, strong currents can pull people out to sea. Waves breaking on the beach can also toss driftwood or debris on beachgoers.

High tides can trap people on rock formations and in coves. Beachgoers should always let someone know where they plan to walk and get another person to accompany them.

[Soldier4Christ]

Winter arrives – snow falling in parts of Inland Northwest


Low lying areas of the Inland Northwest had their first brush with the coming winter as snow was reported in northern parts of the region Thursday.

A wintry mix of rain and snow was evident at many locations, while snow accumulated in valleys of mountainous areas of northeast Washington and North Idaho.

A state transportation traffic camera showed a light accumulation of snow at Metaline Falls, and mountain passes also had snow falling. Snow was reported in Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint where the temperature hovered at 32 degrees at midafternoon.

Accumulations of up to 5 inches at elevations of 3,500 to 4,000 feet were expected overnight. Snow levels are expected to rise overnight with the precipitation changing to all rain even at higher elevations in the region as cold air is scoured by an incoming storm with milder subtropical moisture.

On Thursday, snow also was reported in the West Plains and north of Spokane, said Vern Ballard of the National Weather Service.

Colville reported some of the flakes, as did residents in Medical Lake and Cheney. Transportation department cameras showed no accumulations in those areas by afternoon. The snowfall came after nearly a foot of fresh snow fell at Mount Spokane earlier in the week with accumulations also occurring at other ski resorts in the region. The snow raises the possibility of early ski resort openings this month. After rain in the mountains today, the forecast calls for a return to snowy conditions in the mountains as a series of weaker, but cooler storms moves in off the Pacific Ocean.