As the faceting process takes over the snow pack, there are areas where it is possible to trigger a loose, faceted snow avalanche. This danger exists primarily on steep, shady, sheltered slopes at mid to upper mid elevations.You can recognize these areas where the snow is unsupportable, or barely supportable for a skier or snowmobile, and where you can stick your ski pole right through to the ground. Though not large, these loose snow avalanches can sweep you of your feet, slamming you into trees or carrying you over a rock band.

The snow pack is currently very weak, and in many cases, complex, with a variety of weak faceted layers, crust/facet combinations, as well as depth hoar. The foundation for new snow is terrible, and with snow in the forecast later this week, we will have to be extremely vigilant. Expect the danger to rise dramatically if the anticipated series of storms produces significant snowfall. Persistent slabs themselves are deteriorating, but they can still be found, primarily on upper elevation terrain facing the north half of the compass. Spatial variability is the key phrase here with a a wide range of varying snow depths, particularly in exposed, upper elevations. Persistent north winds have scoured typical starting zones, so areas to suspect are further down slope than usual. This danger is very isolated, and persistent slabs would be difficult to difficult trigger, nevertheless, they would be fairly large and dangerous.

With strong NW winds blowing along the ridge tops, we may begin to see isolated wind slabs forming on the lee sides of terrain features at upper elevations, primarily on slopes with a NE-SE aspect, There isn't much snow available for transport at this time, but expect this danger to rise significantly as it begins to snow later this week.