Winds over the past couple of days have shifted from SE-NE-NW and aback again, easily blowing and drifting Tuesday's 6" of low density snow around. Today's NE winds will continue to move snow around. Be on the lookout for fresh deposits and newly formed stiff slabs, on the lee sides of ridge crests and terrain features in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain. Avoid slopes with a smooth rounded appearance or that show signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface.

On upper elevation, northerly aspects, snow has been sitting around on the ground since October. This has formed a persistent weak layer of loose, sugary, faceted snow that makes an unstable base for new snow on top. In some areas it may be possible to trigger an avalanche 2'-3" deep down to these weak, sugary snow. Areas of steep, radical, and wind loaded terrain that faces the north half of the compass are where you are most likely to encounter this problem.