TRUCKEE (AP) — A string of powerful storms has dumped a mountain of snow in the Sierra Nevada and provided top-notch conditions for what traditionally is one of the busiest weeks of the skiing season.

Squaw Valley USA near Lake Tahoe reports receiving more than 3 feet of new snow between Friday and early Sunday morning, and forecasters expect another 1 to 2 feet by Monday morning.

Resort spokeswoman Amelia Richmond says the storms have set the stage for a busy holiday week and assured Squaw Valley of its second largest Christmas Day snowpack since 1970.

The resort has received some 200 inches of snow so far this season, compared with nearly 250 inches of snow on Christmas Day, 2010.

The heavy snowfall will allow most Sierra resorts to kick into full operation.