This is Chris Lundy of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Monday, December 17, 2007 at 7:30 am.

 City of Ketchum (www.ketchumfire.org) & the Friends of the Sawtooth
 Avalanche Center bring you this advisory.

 weak, faceted snowpack throughout our area, but currently there is no
 overlying slab to cause unstable conditions. With a few inches of snow
 and moderate south winds in the forecast today, watch for the
 formation of shallow wind slabs along northerly facing ridgelines.

 Outlook: Expect the avalanche danger to increase through the week as a
 series of storms begin to pile new snow atop our widespread weak
 snowpack.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 A few inches of new snow and moderate southerly winds are in the
 forecast today, and these may combine to form shallow wind slabs along
 northerly facing ridgelines. Any wind pillow that does form will
 likely be poorly bonded to the faceted snow beneath.

 Secondary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 The common thread connecting the snowpack throughout our region is
 faceted snow from two weeks of dry weather and fairly cold
 temperatures.

 Wherever there is snow on the ground in the Central and South Valleys,
 it has turned to bottomless sugar. In the North Valley, things are
 only slightly more encouraging. At the highest elevations where snow
 depths remain greater than about 2 feet, the snowpack has retained
 some measure of strength and its primarily the surface that has
 faceted. At mid to lower elevations where the snowpack is shallower
 than about 2 feet, it has lost strength throughout.

 In the Salmon River Headwaters area and in the Northern Sawtooths, the
 snowpack is deeper and generally stronger and more supportive. But
 here as well, recent cold weather has formed weak, cohesionless snow
 on the surface.

 Currently the missing ingredient is an overlying slab. That will
 likely change this week as a series of storms start piling snow atop
 our weak snowpack, and you can expect the avalanche danger to rise
 accordingly. How much the avalanche danger will increase will depend
 on how much and how fast the snow adds up.

 Current Conditions:
 Light snow is falling this morning but so far it hasnt topped an inch
 of accumulation. Temperatures at most elevations are currently in the
 mid to upper teens. Ridgeline winds increased overnight, and around
 midnight were blowing 20-40 mph from the south on Titus Ridge.

 Skiers and riders are still reporting passable backcountry conditions
 in our northern mountains, but its best to stay at upper elevations to
 avoid weak, punchy snow. Currently, there is not enough snow in the
 South and Central Valley for backcountry recreation.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 A fast moving storm system will move through our area today bringing
 2-4 inches of new snow. Mountain temperatures are forecasted to reach
 the upper teens to low 20s, and the low 30s are expected in town.

 Ridgeline winds should blow 10-20 mph from the south to southwest.

 The forecast this week is looking promising with several storm systems
 forecasted to move through our region Tuesday through Thursday. Tune
 in tomorrow to see how these systems are shaping up.