With 15" of new snow already on the ground at mid elevations, and with more in the forecast, it will be possible to trigger avalanches in the new snow up to 2' or more in depth. Winds have been mostly light below tree line and much of the avalanching will occur as loose sluffs, or extremely soft, sensitive slabs. This danger will rise above tree line where ridge top winds have blown just hard enough to move some snow around. Expect to find sensitive wind drifts at upper elevations, particularly on slopes with N-NE aspects where dangerous slabs up to 30" deep or more may be found. In addition, an avalanche triggered in the new snow in these areas will have a high potential for stepping down into deeper, weak layers, causing a larger, and even more dangerous avalanche.

The underlying snow pack being asked to bare an additional load of new snow is very weak. In spite of significant snow totals however, actual water weight is very little. This makes for a touchy situation out there. Not quite enough of a load has accumulated to trigger a widespread natural avalanche cycle, but a back country traveler will have a considerable likelihood of triggering one of these avalanches themselves. This would be a large and dangerous avalanche, and slopes steeper than 35 degrees with a NW-N-E aspect are to be avoided.