Conditions are changing - strong winds and warm air aloft are creating new avalanche problems. Cornices and winds slabs could trigger deeper weak layers.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure will continue to maintain dry conditions. The inversion is expected to continue today, providing warm clearing skies at higher elevations, and cloud and cooler temperatures in the valleys. Winds will stay moderate to strong.
Snowpack Summary
Warm temperatures in the alpine (inversion) combined with moderate to strong SW winds are continuing to create hard and soft slabs, especially in the alpine. These slabs overlie the January 4 interface, down 40-60cm. Steep solar aspects are most reactive due to facets on a crust. Significant loading should also be expected on NE aspects.
Avalanche Summary
Most reported avalanches have occurred on S and W aspects in the alpine, and are associated with the January 4 sun crust. Pockets of wind slab have also been observed to fail in specific terrain, mostly on cross loaded features. Cornices are beginning to fail, causing avalanches to size 2.
Confidence