With multiple days of elevated winds and fresh snow available for transport, expect sensitive slabs of wind-drifted snow on upper-elevation slopes and mid-elevation terrain features prone to drifting. These slabs will be most pronounced on leeward (easterly) slopes, but high winds can load any aspect due to swirling and shifting directions, a phenomenon known as cross-loading.

We currently have a snowpack structure primed for avalanches—a classic strong-over-weak setup. It’s a delicate balance, just waiting for enough new snow and wind to tip the scales. The key questions are whether the storm delivered enough load and if avalanches will be triggered.

At the moment, it seems the scales haven’t been tipped, though if they have and have gone unreported, it’s likely in areas that received the most snow and wind—such as upper Big Cottonwood, the Park City Ridgeline, and parts of the Wasatch Back that already had snow on the ground before this storm. That said, the soft snow is there and ready to be transported, and it doesn’t take much wind to continue building a slab, adding load, and getting closer to that tipping point. Keep an eye out for areas that received a bit more snow and wind, especially at higher elevations or favored spots. There’s potential to trigger 1–3' deep soft slab avalanches on slopes facing west to east at mid and upper elevations. Any avalanche initially triggered within the wind-drifted snow could step down into the weak faceted snow.

Listen for whumphs or collapses, test small slopes to gauge reactivity, and look for shooting cracks. Extended Column Tests can also provide valuable insights into snowpack stability. Proceed carefully, as this unstable setup isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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