Various layers of weak, faceted snow and depth hoar are present on mid and upper elevation aspects facing west through north and southeast. Over this past week, several natural and human-triggered avalanches failed in these persistent weak layers, now buried 2-4' deeply. Today's rapid loading of new snow and wind-drifted snow may be enough to again overload these deeply-buried weaknesses, with avalanches breaking down up to 5' deep and over several hundred feet wide. You may not get any warnings - such as collapsing or cracking - of these instabilities until you hit the right spot on the slope and trigger a large, dangerous, and likely unsurvivable avalanche.

The best advice is to avoid being on or underneath slopes steeper than 30° on these aspects at the mid and upper elevations where this persistent weak layer is present.

The video below is from the remotely-triggered slide on Tuesday in Days Fork that was 3' deep and failed in the buried persistent weak layer.

Strong winds will drift snow at the mid and upper elevations. Although the winds are from the west/northwest, these strong winds can work around terrain features and drift snow on any aspect. These fresh drifts will be on top of low-density snow that fell overnight Wednesday and into Thursday and may be sensitive. As mentioned under the persistent weak layer problem, these drifts may also be enough of a load to trigger larger avalanches failing in the deeply-buried weak faceted snow.

Cornices may also quickly develop today and be quite sensitive. Stay well-back from corniced ridges.

Periods of heavy snow are likely today with sluffing in the new snow expected on steeper slopes. Sensitive slabs of storm snow are also possible, especially during any period of heavy precipitation-intensity. Just as with any fresh wind drifts, this rapid load of new snow may be enough to trigger larger avalanches failing in deeply-buried persistent weak layers.