A huge snowstorm that may bring as much as 7 feet (2 metres) of snowfall to Western North America by the end of this week has just got started.
Ski areas in California and expected to see some of the biggest accumulations which, at the most optimistic end, could see as much as five feet (1.5 metres) of snowfall at resort level and an extra 50cm (20") more up on the highest slopes, by the end of this week.
It's a huge change in the weather after a very warm and largely dry fall for much of North America, but particularly the West coast where some areas still have not opened more than a month after their planned season start day and those that have opened have typically only been able to open very limited terrain with just a covering of snow scraped together in the few periods it's been cold enough to make snow.
Things did start to improve last week though with colder temperatures and some snowfall, but now a season-transforming fall is underway.
"The storm has arrived and it's just getting started! Snowfall is expected to continue and get heavier tonight through Tuesday with the potential to drop 3.5–5 feet at the base and 5–7 feet on the upper mountains!" a spokesperson for The Palisades ski area at Lake Tahoe said.
The amounts of snow falling so fast looks set to cause operational (access roads blocked, lifts buried) and safety issues (heightened avalanche danger) initially but hopefully things will start to be looking very good in the week running up to Christmas.