The National Weather Service Forecasts-

TODAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. LOCALLY WINDY. HIGHS 19 TO 25. SOUTHEAST
WIND 10 TO 20 MPH. NEAR DOWNTOWN JUNEAU AND DOUGLAS,NORTHEAST WIND 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH IN THE MORNING. DECREASING TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 12 TO 20. NORTH WIND 10 MPH.

SATURDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 18 TO 24. NORTH WIND 10 TO
15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 5 TO 15. NORTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

With the warm weather from 12 days ago, the rain and heavy dense snow, the lower snowpack has settled and bonded quite a bit.

There are still multiple weak layers lower in the snowpack but the heavy dense snow above them appears to be supportive at this time. Be cautious as new loads are placed on these already weak layers by new snow or even by additional wind loading.

We had several inches of new snow deposited Saturday and Monday. This has placed some additional weakness in the snowpack in places with wind deposits.

Look to see continued areas of wind loading as the snow in place is affected by winds of 10+ MPH throughout most of the next few days. We are seeing a reduction in the loose snow available for transport as these winds continue.

Yesterday natural avalanche releases were sighted on multiple aspects due to wind loading. Be aware there are pockets of instability.

With very little snow on Mt Juneau in the urban starting zones avalanche danger is LOW at this time. Yet some of the gullies are starting to see fair snow accumulation due to crossloading from the winds.

Please remember this is not a backcountry forecast.

Please be aware that fieldwork continues to show multiple weak layers in the snowpack and natural avalanches have been sighted as recently as yesterday.

Backcountry danger levels could be considerably higher.

Keep a record of any reported avalanches, identifying the elevation, aspect, and relative size of each event.

Recent avalanche activity is one of the best indicators of an unstable snowpack. Look for clues of recent avalanche activity:

?Debris piles at the bottom of slopes
?Recent crown lines
?Newly damaged trees in avalanche paths

Previous avalanches ran for a reason and another load of snow may start another cycle or release new, even larger avalanches.