The mid-November drought created a very weak layer of facets and patches of buried surface hoar on all aspects and elevations throughout the Wasatch Range. Avalanches have been triggered at this weak interface as well as collapsing and whoomphing. These signs are clear red flags that avalanches could occur today.

Northwest through east facing aspects harbor a layer of weak faceted snow and have also seen the most wind loading and this is why the danger remains considerable on these aspects. On southwest-south-southeast aspects the danger remains moderate because there is less snow on top of the weak faceted layer and there is a lower likelihood of triggering an avalanche on these aspects. Mark Staples explains more about southerly slopes in the video below.