Saturday - January 12, 2008 - 7:02 am SUMMARY >>> The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, which need to be evaluated for weaknesses within the upper few feet of the snow and any fresh wind drifts, which should be avoided. These problems will be most widespread in exposed upper elevation terrain, along ridgelines and in the upper Cottonwoods, which received the most snow. There also remains a MODERATE danger for triggering a deep, dangerous slide that could break out near the ground. After 8 days of snow, please use caution today! Forecaster: Evelyn Lees CURRENT CONDITIONS >>> Snow totals from the latest weather disturbance that started early Thursday morning are 5 to 10 inches in Big Cottonwood Canyon, the Ogden mountains, and on the Park City side, with the Provo mountains less than 6. Upper Little Cottonwood managed to squeeze 16 inches of snow out of the clouds, with a water content of 1¼ inches. This morning, the northwesterly winds have decreased significantly from yesterdays higher speeds, and are less than 15 mph at all but the highest peaks, where 20 to 30 mph speeds remain. Temperatures are in the single digits to low teens at 10,000. There is powder as far as the eye can see on all aspects and elevations, with some wind damage in exposed terrain. Most of the density inversions within the recent snow should have settled out. RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>> The only reports of avalanche activity yesterday were within the new snow sluffs, soft slabs and sensitive, but shallow, soft wind drifts that were easily triggered on steep slopes. There are a few observation. AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>> Today, these wind drifts and layers within the upper few feet of the snow pack will continue to be the most active. The various layers of graupel and light density snow from the past few days could still be sensitive on steep slopes, but should steadily strengthen out of wind affected terrain. Cornices are large, and could break back further than expected. In the bigger picture, in many mountain locations there has been daily snowfall for the past 8 days, so caution is advised simply due to the large amount of water weight the snowpack still needs some time to adjust. Areas where the graupel has pooled, such as at cliff bases, have extra weight, and its not a good time to hit them hard. The parade of deep, hard slab avalanches has slowed down this week as the weak facets near the ground become more deeply buried and harder to trigger. But there remain isolated places where a person could trigger a deep, dangerous avalanche, most likely on a steep slope with a thin snowpack, especially a slope facing northwest through southeast. MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>> A final weak system will keep clouds over northern Utah today, with light snow possible this morning and again tonight, producing a few inches of fluff. The northwesterly winds will be more relaxed today, generally less than 15 mph, with only the highest terrain having average speeds up to 30 mph, with gusts in the 40s. Temperatures will reach the upper teens at 10,000 and mid 20s at 8,000. High pressure will move in Sunday afternoon, with temperatures warming significantly in the mountains on Monday.