The new snow may form reactive storm slabs, in areas where a slab is not found dry loose avalanches are likely.
Persistent slabs are best managed through conservative terrain selection.
Two weak layers of surface hoar exists deeper in the snowpack. They have been recently been reactive and triggered by people. As the unconsolidated snow settles and forms a slab, a reactive upper snowpack may exist.
Storm slabs may be touchier in wind effected terrain.
Dry loose power sluffing will likely exist in wind sheltered terrain, especially on steep slopes.
Basal facets remain a concern in steep, rocky alpine features with thin-to-thick snowpack transitions.
On Tuesday, dry loose sluffing from steep slopes and terrain features were seen.
New storm slabs may be reactive on Thursday, especially in wind affected terrain. Dry loose power sluffing may be the name of the game in most places that are sheltered from the wind.
Up to 25 cm of low-density storm snow has buried a variety of snow surfaces. It sits above unconsolidated faceted snow, surface hoar and firm wind-pressed snow in open terrain at treeline and above.
Down 50 -70 cm, a crust, facet and or surface hoar layer exists. This may become a problem once the snow above starts to stiffen and form a slab.
130+ cm down another surface hoar layer exists that was buried in early December. This seems to be of most concern above 2000 m where a robust crust doesn't exist above it, or in shallow snowpack areas.
The depth of the snowpack varies greatly throughout the region and weak basal facets are present at the base of the snowpack.
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with possible clear periods, ridgetop wind 15-20 km/h from the east, treeline temperatures near -15 C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud, ridgetop wind 10-15 km/h from the east and treeline temperatures near -9 C.
Friday
New snow 5-10 cm, ridgetop wind 10-20 km/h from the southeast, treeline temperature -3 C.
Saturday
New snow 5-10 cm, ridgetop winds light from the southwest, treeline temperatures near -3 C. Freezing levels 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
