Be prepared for cold emergencies. Uneven coverage, sudden snow changes, and shallow spots should still be suspect.
Weather Forecast
We are making up for our southern January. Daytime highs in the teens, and nights in the twenties would argue for a later start. Be prepared, even minor setbacks could lead to cold injuries.
Snowpack Summary
Alpine areas are a mix of wind blasted and/or soft (faceted) surface snow depending on location - sheltered areas have 40 cm ski penetration. Overall the snowpack is strong. The Jan 17 surface hoar/crust interface can be found below 2200 m down 40-60 cm and is producing moderate, planar shear tests, but there is minimal slab overlying the layer.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported or observed today.