Quite cold in the mountains this morning, but we may see a bit of sunshine by afternoon. You'll find excellent shallow powder conditions in the backcountry, but easterly winds overnight created heightened avalanche conditions on drifted upper and mid elevation slopes. Shallow human triggered avalanches involving wind drifted snow are possible and perhaps likely in some places. East winds can create drifts in unusual or unexpected places, and these can be particularly devious in the Logan Zone.

Fine shallow powder riding conditions and mostly stable snow in the Logan Zone, but heightened avalanche conditions exist where light snow was drifted by east wind overnight.

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 3 inches of new snow with .1" SWE in the last 24 hours, mostly from yesterday evening. It's a bone chilling 6º F and there's 40" of total snow containing 85% of average SWE. It's -1º F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and east-northeast winds are currently averaging about 22 mph, with gusts in the 40s.

We'll see clearing skies and perhaps even a bit of sun today as the low pressure system gradually moves away from the area. High pressure will return Saturday before another storm system impacts the area Sunday into Monday. Expect a high temperature at 8500' near 14º F and 11 to 15 mph east wind, veering from the north in the afternoon. Wind chill values will be as low as -14. It'll be partly cloudy and cold tonight. Low temperatures around 2º F, and 11 mph north wind will cause wind chills around -15. It'll be partly sunny tomorrow, with a chance of snow in the afternoon. High temperatures near 20º F and 15 mph south wind becoming west by afternoon are expected.