The National Weather Service Forecasts-

TODAY...SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE MORNING...THEN RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS AROUND 40. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH INCREASING TO 15 TO 25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS TO 35 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT...RAIN...MIXING WITH SNOW AT TIMES LATE. NO SNOW
ACCUMULATION. LOWS AROUND 33. SOUTHEAST WIND 25 MPH DECREASING TO 10 TO 20 MPH LATE. GUSTS TO 35 MPH IN THE EVENING.

WEDNESDAY...RAIN AND SNOW IN THE MORNING...THEN CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. SNOW ACCUMULATION TO 1 INCH. SNOW LEVEL RISING TO 900 FEET. HIGHS AROUND 37. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 MPH IN THE MORNING BECOMING LIGHT AND VARIABLE.

This mornings temperatures at the Mt Roberts Tram Summit at the warmest we have seen in a while. While tram summit temps rose by nearly 2c degrees overnight, Eaglecrest and Douglas saw the opposite with temps falling slightly by 1c degree.

We have received almost no measurable precipitation in the last 24 hours at the Mt Roberts Tram Summit Weather Station.

The snowpack has settled quite a bit over the last 24 hours as well. This settlement can help add to the strength of the snowpack over time. Especially as the temps cool back off again later in the week. While the Mt Roberts Tram Wx Site had snow settlement of about 10cm(4\"), the Eaglecrest mid mountain site saw only about half that at 5cm due to the cooler temps in place on Douglas Island.

Winds have ranged from 10-25 at the Tram summit and from 20-45 at the top of Eaglecrest. But do not have a lot of light dry snow available for transport at the current time.

Avalanche danger is Moderate this morning.

With not much precip in the forecast for early today, Natural avalanches unlikely, potentially destructive avalanches unlikely to come near or reach developed areas. Yet while temps remain above freezing at lower elevations some natural activity may be possible there as the wet snow may clean itself off of the steep rocky pitches.

Human triggered avalanches possible especially at very low elevations on steep unsupported convex slopes where this wet snow may want to clean itself off... or at very upper elevations if you can find the deeper pockets of windslab deposited over the last few days.

As we head into this evening temps are to remain quite warm and we may see as much as 1\" of precip overnight in a 12-15 hour period. Avalanche danger will rise during this event.

Happy New Years and we hope you have an even better 2013.

Stay safe out there and live to play another day.

Here is an educational quiz for you today. Watch this video located at:

http://unofficialnetworks.com/skier-buried-avalanche-tahoe-video-rescue-114323/

This is not a training video. As a matter of fact there were a ton of mistakes made and this person is lucky to be alive.

All the wrong things were done here.

The camera guy doesn't appear to have a transceiver or shovel. He wastes time borrowing someone else's. In the process forgetting critical equip in his gloves. Gets on scene and can't shovel effectively because he doesn't know where the handle is and his hands are getting cold. Tries to pull a guy out of a deep burial who could have spinal problems. Doesn't effectively use any of his ski partners.

Our industry is experiencing way too many close calls because people think this is acceptable!

I'll tell you what, I don't think I would ever ski with this camera guy. Just my 2 cent opinion.

Sadly this is a showcase that poor skills are good enough and that simply is not the truth!

You should have a transceiver, probe, and shovel for everyone in the group, You should have trained not only with the gear, but with each other. You should have a rescue plan...

LIVE TO RIDE ANOTHER DAY! Happy 2013...