Time and warmer temperatures are helping to strengthen the snowpack, but persistent weak layers are called that because they persist! Our layer of concern is the early December snow that has turned to weak, sugary facets. Since Christmas Eve, regular storms have now piled more than 4' of snow on top of this layer. Add wind drifting, and we've seen avalanches up to 8' deep. The danger is greatest on steep, upper elevation slopes facing NW-N-E, and last Friday's fatal avalanche shows how real the danger is.

Moderate to strong winds over the past week have blown and drifted snow forming deep, hard wind slabs in exposed terrain. They will be stiff and stubborn, and mostly welded into place, but if they break, they could fail several feet deep. Due to the intensity of the winds, and high quantity of snow available for transport, drifting has occurred on all aspects. Expect to find drifts on the lee sides of ridge crests and terrain features such as gully walls, sub-ridges, and rock outcroppings. Avoid areas that have a smooth, rounded appearance, or that feel hollow underneath.