Forecasted heavy snowfall will create sensitive storm snow today. Human-triggered avalanches are likely, as well as possible natural avalanches, especially during any period of high precipitation intensity. Pay attention to rapidly changing conditions, and watch for clues such as cracking or avalanching, even on smaller slopes. The rime crust that formed on Saturday - and is now buried by new storm snow - may be an especially reactive layer for avalanching.

Strong winds out of the south/southwest created some dense wind drifts at the upper elevations on Sunday, and today's northwest winds will have plenty of new, low-density snow to work with, creating fresh wind drifts on all aspects at the mid and upper elevations. Some of these drifts may be 18-24" thick in places. Also watch for sensitive cornices along upper elevation ridgelines, especially on aspects facing north through east. The rime crust that formed on Saturday - and is now buried by new storm snow - may be an especially reactive layer for avalanching.

While the faceted weak layers in our snowpack continue to gain strength and adjust to the recent loading of storm and wind-driven snow, they still cannot be completed trusted. Several observations from the Ogden mountains have indicated preserved near-surface facets and surface hoar (such as the recent avalanche activity on Cutler Ridge), and these weaknesses may be reactive to this new load of storm snow. The rime crust that formed on Saturday complicates this picture, with a possible weak layer on top of the crust. Pay careful attention to being below steep slopes, especially in shady low-elevation terrain. Photo below is recent avalanche failing on layer of faceted snow on northeast aspect at 7000'