Increased reactivity of the Jan 17 surface hoar/crust layer is due to recent loading of storm snow. Distribution is spotty, so dig down to verify if this layer is present in your local area.
Summary
Weather Forecast
An arctic ridge of high pressure will linger in the bulletin region for the remainder of the week. Temperatures will remain frigid, with evening lows down to -30. A temperature inversion has set in at higher elevations. Light winds, sunny skies and temperatures in the low negative teens will make the alpine the place to be.
Snowpack Summary
Recent snow and wind have created wind slab on lee alpine slopes. At treeline elevations, up to 65cm of snow sits over the Jan.17 surface hoar. In shallower areas weak facets and depth hoar exist below the Dec 10 interface. In deeper snow packs this basal weaknesses is less pronounced.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported or observed today. Evidence of a widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 2.5 from the weekend is visible at tree line and above. Recent reports have noted skier triggered avalanches to size 1.5 on the Jan 17 SH layer. As the recent storm snow continues to settle we can expect larger propagations on this weak layer.
Confidence