Areas untouched by the wind will have the best and safest skiing.
With increasing winds late Wednesday windslabs may form in specific locations at ridgetop and below. The stronger and more prolonged the wind, the more loading, the more the hazard will increase. Watch for dry loose sluffing out of steep terrain where winds are present.
No new avalanches were observed or reported from this region Wednesday.
In an adjacent region the Sunshine ski hill had a couple ski cut size 1 wind slabs, and several dry loose size 1's out of steep terrain were observed by our field team on Highway 93N.
Last weekend's storm has settled into 30-40 cm of soft surface snow. This recent snow has buried a new weak layer (dated January 30) which will be important to watch in the future. Currently, minimal slab properties overlying the Jan 30 layer keep the danger moderate to low. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled, with snowpack depths at the treeline ranging from 120cm to 180cm.
Wednesday night winds will increase, particularly at higher elevations. Thursday temperature's will gradually warm, winds will lighten and skies will clear into Friday.
