The National Weather Service Forecasts-

TODAY...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE
AFTERNOON. HIGHS AROUND 28. NORTHEAST WIND TO 10 MPH BECOMING
LIGHT AND VARIABLE IN THE MORNING.

TONIGHT...INCREASING CLOUDS WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS AROUND
26. SOUTHEAST WIND 10 MPH.

SATURDAY...SNOW. SNOW ACCUMULATION 3 TO 5 INCHES. HIGHS AROUND
34. SOUTHEAST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH.

We have received quite a bit of new snow up high in the last week. Temperatures have been good but we are seeing a fair amount of wind transport that often leads to slab instability.

Field work continues to show sensative weak layers that are being easily triggered in places.

This new snow may have triggered some natural avalanche activity already. But in places that have not seen activity there is a possibility the mousetrap has been set.

With not much new snow in the forecast danger should remain moderate and is not predicted to rise until the start of the heavier precip tomorrow. During tomorrow and Sundays event the temperatures are predicted to rise. This will start to place heavy, wet snow on top of looser lighter snow which will start to build a weaker snowpack on top of several weak layers already in place. This is often refered to as an upside down snowpack.

We have seen continued wind transport that needs to be taken into account. This could create very sensative weak layers in places and even has the possibility to trigger natural avalanches.

It is still early season and we do not have a tremendous amount of snow yet so if avalanches were to occur we do not expect them to be of a size that would affect the urban areas of the city.

Danger is Moderate in the Urban Avalanche Zones. This is partially due to the lack of a human trigger for the avalanche.

Remember in the backcountry danger levels may be more Considerable as you add the trigger (YOU).

Please remember this is an avalanche forecast for the urban areas in the city of Juneau Only.

If you are a backcountry traveler please make sure you have the education and the tools to make good decisions and travel safely.

Remember, No Partner, No Tranceiver, No Probe, No Shovel, No Training??? NO TRAVELING IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN!

Please join us for the second annual Southeast Alaska Snow Avalanche Workshop (SEASAW) this Saturday, December 4th at Centennial Hall in Ballroom B at 5:30-10 PM.

This is a continuing education event with presenters from all over the west coast here to help keep Juneau backcountry travelers educated and safe.

For those of you looking for basic Avalanche Awareness Training there is a free course the following Saturday, Dec. 11th from 9-4pm. For more information and to sign up please call (907)586-0419