Snowfall totals yesterday were 12-15″ of cold dry light snow transitioning in areas to warmer wetter temperatures and continued precipitation have set up an upside-down snowpack. Increasing temperatures, precipitation (type/amount/rate) and winds (speed/direction) all are important factors contributing to the storm snow problem. Be attentive to this current problem, look for red flag signs of instability, reactive, drifting snow, cracking, whumphing, or natural avalanches. Do quick hand pit shears, get off the main track & use low-consequence test slopes to help make stability assessments.

What we know, both zones up to 3000′ show poor structure (layers in the snow pack that could produce an avalanche) including melt-freeze crusts, buried surface hoar and near surface facets. It is best to assume spatial distribution is widespread until proven otherwise. Cold temperature gradients have weakening effects on these supportive crusts near the surface, close enough to the surface that they are prime for human triggering, especially in thin area near trees, rocks, cliffs and unsupported slopes. Probe the snowpack for this problem and feel for strong over weak layers, or a punchy, hollowness. Keep in mind this problem can be triggered from far distance/not on the slab.  Give respect to overhead exposure, look for convexities and identify hazardous terrain traps, or where snow could pile up quickly.

(Click photo to learn more about surface hoar at avalanche.org)

Melt-freeze crusts in the snowpack act as a vapor barrier and are likely to exacerbate the presence of depth hoar and faceting (weakening of layers). Be aware of outliers and more snow/wind/rain/warmer temps adds weight and stress to the layers below. With a series of persistent layers in the mid-pack, the chances of an avalanche stepping-down are within the realm of possibility. Avoid big, open, wide 30° degree steep, exposed, planar, convex, or un-supported slopes, and especially terrain traps (cliffs, trees, rocks, gullies) or areas of drainage, where water could be flowing under the snowpack.