Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Mostly stable conditions exist, and avalanches are unlikely. Continue to use normal caution while traveling in the backcountry. Watch for small, thin pockets of wind-drifted snow forming with today's wind and light snowfall.

Avalanche conditions are generally stable. It's been 6 weeks since we've received significant snowfall—one of the longest winter dry spells I can remember. The avalanche danger has been LOW in all zones for 23 out of the last 25 days! Today's forecasted 1-2" of new snow and W winds won't be a drought-ender, nor will they cause a significant increase in danger—but they may form small, isolated wind slabs. 

As today's storm progresses, keep an eye open for fresh drifts of wind-blown snow. These wind slabs are likely to be thin and small but could be forming on weak facets or slick crusts. They will be more likely along exposed upper elevation ridgelines and in alpine terrain. There is also a small chance of triggering an older wind slab formed by winds this past week. Evidence of these older drifts may be masked by today's new snow, but will likely feel stiff, hard, or "drummy" beneath underfoot or sled. New and older wind slabs will be most problematic in high-consequence terrain where getting knocked off your board(s) or machine, or getting taken for a ride by even a small slide, would be dangerous.

Be sure to catch up on what happened this past week in Scott's latest Weekend Update.