The poor snowpack structure we have been experiencing for at least a month now appears to be at a critical stress versus strength state. Thursday may not see the same type of hare trigger reactivity, but this problem is still the number one concern due to the multiple layers of buried facets within the entire snowpack on almost all aspects and at elevations above 8500 feet. Of note, even SE aspects have facets below thin m/f crusts at the upper elevations. Of concern is the way the current slab structure may allow persons to get further out onto slopes before collapse failure.

Wind speeds still appear to be in the critical loading velocity ranges at 2100 hours, and they may also not be as reactive on Thursday, but the underlying snowpack structure may keep them sensitive to human triggers. And, Thursdays forecast for winds more out of the WSW could tend to overload different aspects like in NE upper elevation exposed terrain.