This morning: Skies are partly cloudy and temperatures are in the upper 20's °F. Winds are blowing from the west/northwest, gusting in the teens mph along exposed mid and upper-elevation ridge lines, and in the low 30's mph at 11,000 feet.
Today: Skies will clear by late morning and temperatures will rise into the upper 30's °F. Winds will be from the northwest and increase slightly today, gusting into the teens, with 11,000 foot gusts near 35 mph.
This week will feature sunshine and warm temperatures, but weather models are suggesting possible precipitation in about 7 days.
So far this season, Alta has received 143 inches of snow, just 51 percent of the 45-year average of 282 inches for this date. Water totals tell a less-depressing story, with 18.31 inches of water equaling 76 percent of average.
We are hearing of more long-running sluffs in the weak snow at the surface (aka "facet sluffs"), including a skier being caught and carried in steep terrain in Barietto in Mineral Fork on Saturday. Thanks to the reporting party for their honest assessment of this avalanche occurrence which highlights the importance of making sure no one is below you before dropping into a steeper slope.
Sluffing in steep terrain on Barietto [photo: Joe]
Despite the lack of interesting weather, we continue to receive thoughtful and interesting observations.
