Forecast for the Skyline Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik for
Sunday, January 15, 2023
Today's overall danger rating is MODERATE.
The new snow may be unstable especially if the wind picks up and drifts it mid day.
Places of concern are on upper elevation east facing slopes which is where fresh wind drifts and slabs will be most pronounced.
Overall, the new snow shouldn't pose much threat. Any avalanches will most likely be pretty shallow.
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Weather and Snow
Current Conditions: Light snowfall overnight produced 2 to 6 inches of new snow. Yet again, the north end of the Skyline was favored with the most snow. Temperatures are in the low 20s. The wind has been from the south with light to moderate speeds.
Mountain Weather: We'll see periods of snow today slowly stacking another 3 to 6 inches by this evening. Wind will shift direction and be from the west mid day with stronger speeds. Temperatures probably won't warm much. They should stay in the low to mid 20s. Periods of snow continue for the next few days. We might end up with a couple of feet total by mid week.
Ad
Avalanche Problem #1
New Snow
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Description
New snow is your main concern today. Always pay attention to new snow and see if it is sensitive to the weight of a person. Usually it is easy to figure out if the new snow is sensitive by cutting on small steep test slopes to see if the snow will crack out beneath you. "Test slopes" are small slopes that are not big enough to bury you if they slide. Increase in wind mid day may form drifts and slabs of snow that will probably be sensitive to people provoking them. Overall, I don't think today's snow will be all that dangerous. Just use good judgment out there. If you see cracking within the new snow or if the wind is noticeably drifting snow, use caution and avoid steep slopes.
General Announcements
This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.