Avalanches involving the new snow will be possible on nearly all aspects and elevations today with the exception of southerly aspects that were nearly bare prior to the storm. The danger will be most acute on steep slopes near and above tree line that face N-NE-E. In these areas, preferential wind loading has likely drifted snow into sensitive soft slabs a foot or more deep. Human triggered avalanches within the new snow in these areas also have the potential to step down into a buried persistent weak layer causing a deeper and much more dangerous avalanche. Avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees that face N-NE-E.

On all other aspects pay attention to how the new snow is behaving before committing to steeper terrain. Look for signs of "slabiness" such as blocks of snow between your skis or cracking in the snow surface, and avoid areas with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. In areas where there is no slab, you may still be able to trigger loose snow avalanches on very steep terrain. Utilize test slopes or make "slope cuts" before you commit. Practice safe travel techniques such as skiing or riding slopes one at a time and move to a safe location at the bottom.

Poor snowpack structure and a persistent weak layer problem exists on slopes near and above tree line that face NW-N-NE-E. In these areas, stiff slabs of wind drifted snow overly a weak and faceted snowpack with the primary layer of concern sitting just beneath the Christmas Rain Crust (CRC). The odds of triggering a large avalanche failing on this weak layer have decreased since the large, snowmobile triggered avalanche on January 9, but they haven't gone away completely. The recent addition of new and wind drifted snow has kept the possibility alive, if not bumped it back up. The only safe strategy at this time is to avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees in these areas.