Colder air temperatures than weather prognosticators predicted may mean snow accumulation at lower levels overnight Sunday into Monday morning.

“We've had cooler air than anticipated,” said Drew Peterson of the National Weather Service in Sacramento. “Initially, we had snow accumulation at elevations 3,000 feet and up, but I wouldn't be surprised to see accumulation as low as 2,500.”

Grass Valley's elevation is 2,411 feet.

The bulk of precipitation was expected to last from 10 p.m. Sunday until about 2 a.m. Monday.

The storm will linger Monday until late evening, before a high pressure system situates above the foothills, bringing clear skies in tow.

Another storm system could approach late Thursday into Friday, but precipitation predictions will not be available until later in the week, Peterson said.

A winter storm warning will continue through Monday for elevations 4,000 feet and above.

The first dose of real winter brought elation to winter outdoor recreators, as all the resorts in the Lake Tahoe area received new snow, allowing some ski destinations to open up terrain that hasn't witnessed a ski all year long.

Sugar Bowl Ski Resort reported 4 inches of snow accumulation at the base of the resort in the past 24 hours, meaning a total of 14 inches for the storm system that began Thursday.

Toward the peak there has been 6 inches of accumulation in the past 24 hours and 22 inches throughout the storm.

Squaw Valley Ski Resort is posting 12-inch accumulations at the base and 22-inch accumulations at the top throughout the storm, according to its website.

To contact Staff Writer Matthew Renda, e-mail mrenda@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4239.