Keep your guard up, conditions can change quickly with sun or wind effect. Dig down and assess the storm snow before committing to your line. Even with a "Moderate" hazard rating, human triggered avalanches are still possible.
Weather Forecast
Temperatures will slowly rise today as a high-pressure system engulfs us over the forecast period. Freezing levels will rise today in the Alpine and skyrocket on Thursday & Friday as an inversion settles in. Today an alpine high of -5, light to moderate winds from the westerly quarter and no precipitation.
Snowpack Summary
50cm of last week's storm snow is mostly "right side up" except in the Alpine and exposed areas at tree line where the wind has gotten to it. The November 26th/23rd crust complex is buried now approximately 60-80cm, which is still moist in some locations. Recent compression tests have been in the moderate to hard range, typically resistant planar.
Avalanche Summary
Natural activity tapered off yesterday, with only one size 2 natural observed in the highway corridor out of extreme terrain. Skiers in the Video Peak area yesterday, reported an old size 1 on a steep unsupported feature, probably failing in the storm snow.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.