The National Weather Service Forecasts-

TODAY...RAIN...MIXED WITH SNOW IN THE MORNING WITHIN MENDENHALL
VALLEY. LITTLE OR NO SNOW ACCUMULATION. SNOW LEVEL RISING TO 600 FEET IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS 32 TO 37. EAST WIND INCREASING TO 10 TO 20 MPH IN THE MORNING. HIGHER GUSTS NEAR DOWNTOWN JUNEAU AND DOUGLAS LATE IN THE MORNING.

TONIGHT...RAIN. SNOW LEVEL 800 FEET. LOWS AROUND 34. SOUTHEAST
WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY...RAIN. HIGHS AROUND 37. SOUTHEAST WIND 15 TO 25 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT...RAIN. LOWS AROUND 35. EAST WIND 15 MPH.

Good morning Juneau. Its nice to see a little new snow out there even if its only a trace. Its a start to a new system that hopefully brings a little more new snow.

We received only 1mm of precipitation in the last 24 hours at the Mt Roberts Tram but we are seeing closer to 4cm of new snow with wind deposit on the snow survey site.

Eaglecrest is showing 2.5mm of precip and 2cm of new snow as well.

Winds are moderate and expected to increase to considerable. Mt Roberts is blowing 10-15 gusting to 25 out of the East. Eaglecrest is slightly lower showing 8-12 gusting 15 out of the East.

Temps this morning are 31f at the tram summit. 33f at the Eaglecrest base, 30f at mid mountain and 28 on summit. They are predicted to raise over the next 36 hours.

Be aware this new snow is probably not bonding well to the old snow surface and that bond will vary greatly depending on aspect, elevation, shade, and more. Look to see shallow wind slabs developing on West facing slopes.

Todays precipitation volumes are expected to be light. Avalanche danger is low but is building with both new snow and winds. As we go from tonight into tomorrow precipitation volumes are expected in increase. This will continue to build off of the wind slabs and increase their sensitivity.

As tomorrow warms up danger levels will increase. Temps are supposed to rise throughout the next 2 days which will also decrease stability by creating an upside down snowpack.

Avalanche danger is LOW at this time. Yet look for super shallow slabs building in the lee of slopes throughout the day. Avalanche danger is increasing with new snow, wind, and continued warming over the next 36 hours.

Get out and have a great day.

It was terrible news to hear about the 5 people killed in BC in an avalanche. Read more about it here and see if you can see any common mistakes they should have avoided. The more we learn from others mistakes the fewer we hope to make ourselves.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2488833/snowmobilers-back-on-mountain-after-5-deaths-in-mcbride-avalanche/

Quick highlights from the Avalanche were 30+cm of snow in 24 hours. High winds for windloading... and warming temperatures throughout the storm creating an upside down snowpack. Also if you ride a slope one at a time and park in safe locations you will never have more than one person in an avalanche. The only way this kind of thing happens is when too many people are in the danger zone. Sadly this should never have happened to so many people.