Sorry Hugh but I am not a retired Meteorologist! I retired as a Hydrological-Meteorological Technician, a Job Description/Position which covered a very wide-range of duties. Although I wasn't trained in the new fangled programs for forecasting, I could forecast old school by interpreting the Analyses of the Atmosphere and the Forecast Prog Maps. I did often offer my' insights and opinions on the forecast, weather systems and severe weather as needed!
Based on my knowledge of weather and especially the areas we visited, I would imagine that there is close to two feet of snow there or probably will be by the end of the day! That area has been for some 24 hours or more and is currently on the upslope side of the wind flow and moisture which enhances cloud development and snowfall. I worry that with the extreme snow depths there, the wildlife will suffer greatly and some will probably die due to being unable to get to available food on and in the ground. I would imagine that the Bear Hunters are experiencing Bear Hunting Withdrawal symptoms about now with the current Gun/Muzzleloader/Archery Season running from 10/29/12 through 11/02/12 and not being able to get themselves and their' dogs up on the mountains! I have hunted Deer in West Virginia in similar to worse weather but I never worried too much about not getting in or getting out as the WVDOT and National Forestry folks there do a pretty good job of keeping the roads open. It was great to be amongst all that beauty even though I was sometimes 5 to 7 miles from my' truck, standing in 1 to 2 feet of snow with temperatures hovering at 10 below zero. Brrrrrrrr!!! Those were the days! I actually miss it because with a white background, everything that is brown or black stands out like a sore thumb in sub-zero weather!
Frank
