Fresh snow combined with moderate to strong southerly winds will create fresh drifts sensitive to the weight of a skier or rider today. Look for recent deposits of wind drifted snow on the leeward sides of ridge crests and terrain features on slopes facing the north half of the compass. Initially, new drifts shouldn't pose too much of a problem, but they will become deeper and more widespread as new snow accumulates. Cracking in the snow surface is a sign of instability. Beware of smooth, pillowy, fresh deposits of wind drifted snow, and avoid steep slopes where they are more than about 6" deep.

Weak layers have been observed developing within the snowpack over the past week to 10 days. I'm uncertain to what extent the new snow will affect them. My inclination is that there is the likelihood for wind drifted snow to affect weak layers in the upper portion of the snowpack. That said, travel advice remains the same - steep wind drfited slopes should be avoided. A triggered wind drift has the potential to step down into a buried weak layer.