Winter sports lovers, who hoped California’s heavy winter storm on Thursday would drop enough snow in the mountains to kick off an early ski season, need to wait a bit longer.

The storm that rolled over California, dropping inches of rain on the Coast, is too warm to bring flakes, ski park officials said, and it pivoted away from some central and eastern mountain areas on Thursday.

The good news — at least for winter sports fans — is that the winter storm prompted some high mountain parks and forest wildernesses to open snow camping and welcome back country skiers and snowshoers for the season. Those parks are ready when Mother Nature plays along, they said.

As of Thursday evening, the day's storm left two of California's snowiest spots — Mammoth Mountain and Lassen Volcanic National Pa

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