Quick report
Warm and strong solar input today on South and West aspects at low and middle elevations. This created moist snow surfaces with a melt freeze crust that will develop tomorrow and upside snow. Solar input was less impactful at upper elevations thanks to continuous cool breeze. Warming trend definitely increased instability concerns. 6" of new snow down low with pockets of wind drifted snow 20" at upper elevations on East aspects. No firm wind slabs even off exposed ridgelines. No propagation in stability tests. Decent amount of natural activity that sloughed mid storm on steep aspects. Some D1 recent avalanche activity on southerly aspects due to warming. One was due to cornice fall, which will start to be a concern as spring approaches.
Snowpack
Main concern was new snow instability, especially in upper elevations in wind drifted pockets up to 20" deep. Found easy to moderate hand shear tests on buried stellars down 16-20". Plenty of density breaks within this recent loading. New snow is still F/4F hard, and lacks a firm cohesive slab. Warm temps and solar influence will change this. Monitor the development of this slab and assocaited instability.
7600' SSE aspect HS: 205cm No propagation in stability tests. Feb 18th crust+facet layer is bonding well.
9100' W aspect HS: 260cm No propagation in stability tests.