The National Weather Service Forecasts:

TODAY...SUNNY. PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING. HIGHS 27 TO 35. LIGHT WINDS...EXCEPT NORTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH NEAR INTERIOR PASSES.

TONIGHT...CLEAR. LOWS 15 TO 27. LIGHT WINDS...EXCEPT NORTH WIND 15 TO 25 MPH NEAR INTERIOR PASSES.

WEDNESDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS 26 TO 35. NORTHEAST WIND 15 TO 25 MPH. STRONGEST WINDS NEAR INTERIOR PASSES.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 21 TO 27. NORTHEAST WIND 15 TO 25 MPH. STRONGEST WINDS NEAR INTERIOR PASSES.

We received quite a bit of heavy wet snow last week during a period of high winds. This has created enough snowcover in our urban avalanche paths to raise the level of danger and kickoff our season forecast.

With a cooling trend for the end of the storm and very wet conditions that mostly pasted the new snow into the starting zones avalanche danger is low today. With continued cool weather and no precipitation in the forecast dangers will remain low.

As we start to see the wind pick up windloading will increase into our start zones. This will increase avalanche danger over time.

We do have multiple weak layers deeper in the snowpack that DOT's avalanche control showed to be active under enough load. This weak layer would take a great deal of stress to trigger but if we see enough new load in the form of wind, new snow it could become an issue once again.

Please remember this is not a backcountry forecast and make good educated decisions on your own.

Please also be aware this forecast is for an area with no human triggers. There is a weakness present in the snowpack in places. Should you add the trigger(YOU)the danger may be higher in places.

US Forest Service hosts ice safety training and demonstration at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center by Capital City Fire and Rescue (CCRF) Saturday, January 9 from 1:30pm until 3pm.

The program will begin in the visitor center auditorium with a video and slide show illustrating the effects of cold water immersion and rescue techniques. An outdoor demonstration follows with a rescue from an icy pond adjacent to the visitor center.

?This program is aimed at keeping people safe in winter,? said visitor center director John Neary. ?Being prepared and knowing how to save yourself and those around you in case you fall through ice is a really important skill.?

CCFR special team Engineers Jayme Johns and Brady Fink and Captain Travis Mead will conduct the training and rescue demonstration along with members of the department and volunteers. As part of the indoor training, the rescuers will show a video featuring Canadian researcher Dr. Gordon Geisbrecht, also known as ?Professor Popsicle? for his cold water immersion studies. Dr. Geisbrecht intentionally skis into a hole cut into a frozen lake and describes his reaction to the onset of hypothermia. Another aspect of the program will be a description of some of the hazardous pond sites around Juneau where adults, children and pets can get into trouble with thin ice.

?We are hosting this valuable session for the public to let people know the dangers of being on Mendenhall Lake and other places that appear safe but harbor truly hazardous conditions for the unwary,? said visitor center naturalist Laurie Craig. ?We are grateful to Capital City Fire and Rescue staff for sharing their expertise on Saturday afternoon.?

For more information call 907 789-0097.