The National Weather Service Forecasts- TODAY...PERIODS OF LIGHT SNOW AND RAIN. AREAS OF FOG IN THE MORNING. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 1 INCH. HIGHS AROUND 36. LIGHT WINDS.

TONIGHT...PERIODS OF LIGHT SNOW AND RAIN. PATCHY FOG. SNOW
ACCUMULATION UP TO 1 INCH. LOWS AROUND 30. LIGHT WINDS. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 80 PERCENT.

THURSDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN AND
SNOW. HIGHS AROUND 36. LIGHT WINDS BECOMING EAST 15 MPH IN THE
AFTERNOON.

With very little new snow in the last week things are farily stable at this time.

We have seen more above freezing temperature on Mt Roberts and Mt Juneau than below freezing temperatures in the last week. This was slowly weekening the snowpack. Todays temps have dropped back below freezing and the lower layers are starting to solidify.

As long as rainor snow comes in slowly or not at all danger levels should remain moderate.

Currently at lower elevations the bottom 2/3 of the snowpack is moist, warm, and rotten. There is some bonding and bridging above this layer. Yet the weakness is quite present and needs quite a bit of time at below freezing temperatures if it is to resolidify.

Below freezing temperatures are like the glue that helps to hold the snowpack together. During periods of above freezing temperature the bonds that have formed between the crystals erode and disappear. The longer the period of warm temperature the more the snowpack tends to weaken.

Rain has this same effect by rapidly warming the snowpack as well as eating away at the corners of the flakes and the bonds holding them together.

Once the snowpack warms it takes a tremendous amount of time and energy to bring it back down in temperature.