This is Janet Kellam of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 7:30 am. The Sawtooth Society in partnership with Idaho's SNRA Mountain Goat license plate program & the Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center bring you this advisory. Special Announcement: We have issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING with the National Weather Service for the mountains of South Central Idaho. (This does not apply to operating ski areas and highway programs-Respect all closures these operations have.) Bottom Line: The avalanche danger is widespread and the danger rating has been elevated to HIGH. Recent heavy snows and strong winds have produced large areas of unstable snow. Human triggered and natural avalanches are likely on steep snow-covered slopes and gullies. Travel in avalanche terrain or avalanche run-out areas is not recommended. Primary Avalanche Concern: Extremely rapid snowfall rates, strong southerly winds and warm temperatures have created a top heavy snowpack. Total accumulations range from 13 inches at Ketchum Ranger Station, 18 to 20 inches on Baldy and over 2 feet of new snow in some high mountain locations. As the sun comes up we may see a variety of backcountry avalanches that ran on steep slopes during the night. The strong winds have created much deeper deposits on leeward slopes along exposed ridgelines. Extra concern exists for north facing slopes wind loaded by the prevailing southeast to south west winds. Light snowfall and moderate winds are forecast throughout today and into the evening. We expect the avalanche danger to persist throughout the day and new wind slabs will continue to form. The snow is thick. If you are on a slope that is steep enough to ski- you are in dangerous avalanche terrain today. This includes any ski area closures or out of bounds slopes, where you should not be. Secondary Avalanche Concern: In the Central and South Valley and areas with a shallow snowpack: The new snow sits on top of a foot of very weak snow. Late last night, natural avalanches were reported on very steep southeast facing slopes on the Board Ranch. We expect to see similar activity today on steep slopes throughout our region. Due to the nature of the weak faceted snow on the ground, moderate to large size avalanches are possible. North Valley and areas with a deeper snowpack: The weak layers are less pronounced, although large pockets of weak snow exist in steep rocky terrain or in alpine regions. In addition, the higher mountains received greater amounts of snow and wind. Natural and human triggered avalanches will be just as likely here as in the Central and South Valley. Current Conditions: Snow totals range from a foot to over two feet of heavy, dense snow. Significant wind drifting and scouring occurred throughout the storm on any exposed slopes. The winds are less, but Titus still reports southwest winds averaging in the teens and gusting in the 30mph range. Temperatures are significantly cooler at upper elevations and light snowfall throughout the day will improve the surface conditions. Baldy and Titus are reporting temperatures in the teens at 6AM, 29 to 30 degrees on the valley floor. Mountain Weather Forecast: Light to moderate snowfall is expected today and tonight, bringing up to several inches of new snow to the valley floor and possibly 5 to 8 more inches in the high mountains. Winds are expected to continue to blow up to 25 to 30mph from the southwest into tonight, shifting westerly by Sunday morning. 9,000ft to 10,000ft temperatures will range in the high teens and low twenties. Temperatures on the valley floor may get as high as 35 degrees today. All locations will cool significantly tonight, dropping into the teens in most areas and into the single digits at 10,000ft.