Above, a 24 hour data dump from Windy Peak (10,662') illustrating wind shift with evolution of today's storm.

Robust ridgetop winds have no problem whipping up drifts, especially on slopes with an easterly component to their aspect. As the storm unfolds, today's fresh drifts may break a bit deeper and wider than you might expect. Easy to identify by their fat, rounded appearance this is an equally easy avalanche dragon to avoid.

Mild temps, strong spring sunshine, and a whole 'lotta water go a long way to help a snowpack begin healing and I'm psyched the January PWL is feeling some warm love from our recent storms. The good news... the snowpack is beginning to gain strength and other than a subtle whumph or two, I'm encouraged to see it adjusting to the big mid-February storm. Now for the flake news... remember, all we need to do is find a weakness, maybe around a rock or a bush, collapse the pack, and now we're staring down the barrel of a dangerous slide. Let's give it a little more time and see how the pack handles today's storm before we begin stepping into big terrain.

Becoming more the exception than the rule, this is still the type of avalanche we can trigger today, if we're able to find a weakness in a thin portion of the slab and knock the legs out from underneath.

During periods of increased snowfall rates, fresh storm snow will become more reactive to our additional weight, especially on sustained steep slopes, even at lower elevations,