Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: SSE 17 G 28 Temp 30° Percent of Normal: 100%

Strong Southerly winds continue to hammer the La Sals while a winter storm brings snow to points North. Precipitation will settle South this afternoon bringing light snow showers to our region. Accumulations will be light, with maybe 1-3" possible. Winds will continue to blow out of the SW at 20-25 mph. High temperatures will hover around 30 degrees in Gold Basin. The storm will clear out by tomorrow, and we will see a return to sunny skies on Thursday and Friday.

The story is the wind. Strong Southerlies have blown for three straight days making it more difficult to find good skiing. You may have to work for it, but the best skiing will be found in sheltered areas near treeline and below. In my travels on Monday, I was able to find soft, settled powder conditions in the mid-elevations. I observed shallow slabs of wind-drifted snow forming in isolated areas on the lee side of the highest elevation ridge lines. Slabs continue to build and I would expect them to be sensitive today if you happen to be poking around in the alpine. These sensitive wind drifts exist in the exact places I am currently avoiding. Steep and rocky alpine terrain remains the most likely place to trigger an avalanche failing on a deeply buried persistent weak layer of facets. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to trigger an avalanche on this weak layer, but you are most likely to trigger one on slopes with a shallow snowpack. You can stack the odds in your favor by avoiding complex terrain features, and skiing in areas with deep snow. Grab your shovel, or simply probe around. I have been finding safe and fun skiing on many slopes at the mid-elevations with a depth of 200 cm or more.

See the most recent observations here.

Check out this video for a discussion of our current, "Low probability - high consequence" scenario.