Widespread signs of instability are slowly decreasing, as are natural avalanches, but the fact remains that none of us trust this snowpack. We’ve seen avalanches on almost every aspect and elevation in the past 5 days, and because there are multiple weak layers, you can’t be sure which one will fail. I don’t encourage anyone to try to navigate the hazard right now. Plenty of excellent powder riding can be found on slopes less than 30 degrees. Plain and simple.

Overnight, winds have been blowing from the west-northwest in the teens MPH with gusts in the 20s MPH. 11,000' ridgelines have been blowing steady in the 30s MPH with gusts in the 40s and 50s MPH. Temperatures at upper elevation trailheads are in teens F and lower trailheads are in the 20s F this morning. In the past 24 hours, the mountains have picked up 5-9" of snow containing .27-.72" of SWE.

The NWS Winter Weather Advisory continues through noon today, and the mountains could pick up another 1-3 inches of snow before the skies clear this afternoon/evening. Expect mostly cloudy skies, with 10,000' high temperatures in the teens F. Winds from the west-northwest will blow 5 to 10 MPH with gusts in the teens on 9000' ridgelines and 25 MPH with gusts near 40 MPH at 11,000'.