The snowpack has taken a real beating - adding 1-2" of water (and snow water equivalent) in the past 24 hours is like adding another floor onto a house that's supported by toothpicks. It can only take so much weight before it fails. The snowpack is saturated and soggy. Loose wet avalanches were observed yesterday and there will be more today due to a poor overnight refreeze and forecast above-freezing daytime temperatures. The storm is expected to clear out quickly and with some sunshine expected this afternoon, the new storm snow may heat up and create a fresh cycle of wet activity. Avoid steep slopes with soggy, saturated snow.

Though there is not enough snow to trigger this type of avalanche at low elevations, be mindful of the terrain above you as wet avalanches can travel far distances and come from out of sight.

Fresh pinwheels or rollerballs are a sure sign of instability.

With 1-2" of rain and snow water equivalent, we've added a great amount of stress to a generally weak snowpack. Weak, faceted snow still exists near the ground on mid and high elevation slopes. What didn't naturally avalanche yesterday or overnight, might be hanging in the balance today just waiting for a trigger. Avalanches 1-3' deep are possible with the most problematic areas in steep rocky terrain above 8000' on north to east facing slopes. Backcountry terrain adjacent to Snowbasin will be extremely dangerous over the next couple of days.

Southerly winds were cranking yesterday but mostly when it was raining. Once the cold front moved through and snow began to fall, winds calmed down rapidly. Wind slab activity will be most likely in upper elevation exposed terrain and along ridge lines. Avoid steep slopes with freshly wind drifted snow. Even a small wind slab avalanche could be enough weight to trigger something deeper and more dangerous.