Thick hard slabs of wind drifted snow have formed over top of a snowpack comprised entirely of weak faceted layers on slopes facing NW-N-NE-E. Deep and dangerous human triggered avalanches failing on any one of these persistent weak layers are certain today. Most avalanches will initially fail on a layer of preserved near surface facets that were covered up on February 11, before stepping down deeper into the snowpack. This is all academic however. Any triggered avalanche in these areas will be virtually unsurvivable. Poor snowpack structure exist on west aspects as well, but the over riding slabs are not as deep an hard. Nevertheless, these slopes are not to be trifled with. Avoid all avalanche terrain facing W-N-E.

Strong southerly winds throughout the week have formed thick hard slabs on northerly aspects. Dangerous enough in and of themselves, triggered wind slabs in these areas will absolutely step down into buried weak layers. A shift in wind direction to the northwest yesterday likely transported snow on to more southerly aspects with the likelihood increasing with elevation. Look for slabs of wind drifted snow on the leeward sides of ridge crests and terrain features such as gully walls and sub ridges. Avoid slopes that have a smooth, rounded appearance. Cracking is a sign of instability.

The recent snow was very light and I don't expect it to be very slabby, but the shear amount warrants caution. Besides the extra weight it has placed on our fragile snowpack, it will be prone to sluffing, and loose, dry avalanches will be possible to likely in very steep terrain. In areas where it has been stiffened by the wind, you may find some soft slab formation within the new snow. If you are noticing blocks of snow on the edges of your skin track, or cracking in the snow surface, you have found a slab increasing the likelihood for an avalanche.

On Thursday we observed developing slab conditions in the recent snow indicated by this block of snow falling into the skin track.