We have a CONSIDERABLE danger for slab avalanches. Very weak faceted snow has become overloaded by the strong winds and heavy snowfall. This weak, sugary, faceted snow is found on mid elevation, northwest, north, northeast, and east facing terrain. As well as the upper elevation west through southeast facing terrain. These are the slopes I would avoid for the next couple of days. Don't be fooled by the sunshine and beautiful powder snow, these are the exact conditions that lead to avalanche accidents and fatalities. The slab avalanche you trigger has the potential to be 2-3' deep and several hundred feet wide. This is the type of avalanche that will kill you! Any steep slope with old faceted snow should be off limits.

Avalanches can be triggered from a distance today and from adjacent terrain. Avoid walking in runout zones and being underneath anything steep in the terrain described by the locator rose above. Be mindful of anyone below you if you're walking on ridgelines.

Yesterday there was a wind gust reported at 102 mph at upper elevations. Wind along with 17.5-24" of new snow has created many drifts of wind blown snow scattered across the terrain. The good news: wind drifts are easy to spot by their rounded appearance and they tend to stabilize quickly. The bad news: is that with such strong winds you can expect cross loading at all mid and upper elevations and drifts that have formed in odd places as well, like gullies and mid slope break overs. Avoid being on any steep slopes that's been wind loaded.

Snow safety crews reported that the new snow was inverted and noted collapsing within the new snow on all mid and upper elevation aspects. We need to let the new snow settle out before committing to any steep terrain.