It’s not over yet on Mount Charleston

Dagger-length icicles hanging from the rooftops of Mount Charleston homes are a reminder of the 80 to 90 inches of snow that buried the mountain community before Christmas.

One neighborhood, Echo Canyon, was still without power Monday, but power lines are expected to be repaired today , according to NV Energy.

Echo Canyon was under an avalanche advisory, so only residents were allowed into the neighborhood Monday. They were told by authorities to watch out for heavy snow sliding from their rooftops and to avoid playing in the steep snowbanks.

A winter storm watch will be in effect for Mount Charleston starting tonight. National Weather Service officials expect 10 to 18 inches of snow to fall at elevations above 7,000 feet and 5 to 10 inches at elevations between 5,000 feet and 7,000 feet by Wednesday evening.

The winter storm watch could be upgraded to a warning today , said Larry Jensen, a meteorologist for the weather service in Las Vegas.

But Clark County might not bear the brunt of the storm because it is tracking northward toward Lincoln County, Jensen said.

While bracing for the new storm, many residents on Mount Charleston were happy that life was returning to normal.

"The county and the state (crews) have done a fantastic job of clearing the roads," said Phil, who declined to give his last name.

Roy Shupe, a manager at the Mount Charleston Lodge, was grateful that the weather was "clear and you don't need chains" to drive.

Cars were lined up outside the lodge grounds because snow covered most of the parking lot.

Some residents privately grumbled about all the people coming up to frolic in the snow.

The narrow roads on the mountain were congested Monday with the minivans of families taking advantage of the school holiday to sled, build snowmen and throw snowballs.

Lon Wright took his in-laws from the Central American nation of Belize to the mountain so that they could see the "beautiful snow."

"This is how you should enjoy the weather," said Wright, who grew up in Minneapolis where winter never seems to end.

So Wright appreciates "spending a few hours" in snow on Mount Charleston, he said, and then going "back down to the valley where it's 60 degrees."

"It's kind of like living in a big amusement park," he said.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal. com or 702-374-7917.