This is Janet Kellam of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for Friday, March 6, 2009 at 7:30 am. Bottom Line: In the North Valley, Sawtooth Mountains and areas that have received more than a foot of snow in the past week the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE at mid to upper elevations on steeper slopes. The main concerns, where it is possible to trigger a slide today, are for windloaded slopes and areas of weak underlying snow in steep rocky terrain. In the Central and South Valley, we have received less snow and the avalanche danger is MODERATE. The main concern is for windloaded slopes at upper elevations. WEEKEND OUTLOOK- Strong winds and light accumulations of snow today will bring very cold temperatures and clearing skies by Saturday. Another round of light to moderate snowfall and gusty winds is expected Sunday. Continue to watch for avalanche conditions in wind loaded areas and in steep rocky terrain. Primary Avalanche Concern: In the Galena area and Sawtooth Mountains, more than a foot of light density new snow was moved around by yesterday’s strong winds. Winds primarily blew from the west and shifted more southerly. By tonight the winds should shift back to the north. Some wind loaded areas appeared less sensitive to the weight of a human than others but yesterday a northeast facing slope above Titus Lake buckled and tried to slide before skiers even got onto it from the ridge. The slope wasn’t quite steep enough to go or didn't have quite enough of a load, but ongoing winds will continue to deposit snow on leeward slopes today. These wind slabs have formed on top of very light dry snow so avoid pillows of wind blown snow or firmer wind slabs on steep slopes, along cross loaded ridgelines or at sharp breakovers in terrain. Secondary Avalanche Concern: January-like conditions have returned to the high country. Since mid February Galena Summit has received more than 3 feet of new snow and the northern Sawtooths has greater accumulations. This past week these areas have received 1 to 2 feet of new snow and strong winds. Prior to all this precipitation our old snow surfaces consisted of very weak faceted snow, wind hardened surfaces or melt freeze crusts. In many locations, the recent snow is now bonding to the old snow and the weak areas are gaining strength. However, in steep rocky terrain the weak snow was so developed and so extensive that we continue to see slab avalanches triggered by skiers. These slides have been reported in the Titus area but the same condition exists throughout our region at mid to upper elevations. Wind drifted areas and terrain with steep breakovers and rock outcrops are the most likely spots to encounter unstable slopes. In all cases the avalanches have occurred on slopes with some portion of the slope steeper than 35 degrees. This condition will persist throughout the weekend, especially in alpine areas. Slopes less than approximately 35 degree slope angle will offer good stability and excellent powder conditions. Additional Concerns: Most areas show good bonding of the newer snow to the old crusts, but many locations have not had full sun yet. When we do get a sunny day, which may be part of Saturday, expect to see and trigger wet sluffs of newer snow on the old crusts in very steep terrain. Current Conditions: Excellent powder conditions exist on all aspects this morning. Most areas only received a couple inches of snow overnight but the Salmon headwaters and northern Sawtooths report another 6 to eight inches of new snow since yesterday morning. The most snow has accumulated north of Ketchum in the Galena area and in the Sawtooth Mountains, about 15 to 18 inches over the past few days. This is enough snow to keep a skier well above the underlying crusts on the warmer aspects. Because the surface snow is so light density, moderate slope angles offer great, safe skiing and riding. In the Central and South Valley snow totals are about half of our northern sector at mid to upper elevations. Warm temperatures have given us crusty conditions with a few inches of surface snow below approximately 7,000ft. Winds yesterday were the big factor blowing from the west, then shifting from the south. Wind speeds averaged in the teens but 30 to even 50mph gusts were recorded throughout the day at upper elevations. Winds have decreased slightly, blowing 10-15 out of the southwest and gusting 18-20mph. Early morning temperatures are 10 degrees at upper elevations, 20 degrees on the valley floor. Mountain Weather Forecast: Today’s forecast calls for decreasing snow showers with an accumulation of 1 to 2 inches of snow possible in Ketchum, 2 inches possible on Baldy and 3 to 4 inches may add up at Galena Summit and further north. Daytime temperatures will reach 32 degrees on the valley floor, stay in the teens at upper elevations and plummet by tonight as a cold front moves in. Expect temperatures tonight in the single digits everywhere and below zero in Stanley. Winds are supposed to subside and shift from the north, bringing the cold air. In most cases we see gusty conditions in the valleys and along ridgelines as this cold air drops into our area.