The National Weather Service Forecasts-

TODAY...SUNNY. HIGHS ZERO TO 6 ABOVE ZERO. EAST WIND 15 TO 25 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTH IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND CHILL TO 25 BELOW ZERO IN EXPOSED LOCATIONS IN THE MORNING.

TONIGHT...CLEAR. LOWS 10 BELOW TO ZERO. NORTH WIND 15 TO 25 MPH. WIND CHILL TO 25 BELOW ZERO IN EXPOSED LOCATIONS LATE.

WEDNESDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS 6 TO 12. NORTHEAST WIND 25 MPH. WIND
CHILL TO 40 BELOW ZERO IN THE MORNING.

Although winds have not been extreme... We continue to see loading and natural avalanche activity on South facing slopes... From SW to SE many slopes have been affected.

Crown sizes have varied a great deal. Mostly smaller avalanches. Yet a few mid sized avalanches have been sighted as well.

Today will see continued moderate winds. Ranging from the East to the North... Look to see continued windloading and the possibility for natural avalanches to continue.

Some of our urban paths are getting quite loaded now and we are seeing snow build up in places we have not seen all season.

Continue to limit your time in avalanche terrain on or near these windloaded areas. Thane Road, The Flume and Perseverance Trails all have potential for natural avalanche releases. Berhands also has potential for natural avalanches. The size of slides is not predicted to be huge. Yet recognize these are powder avalanches. They travel extremely fast and produce quite a powder cloud. This powder cloud comes with quite a wind blast that can cause damage.

In the backcountry continue to recognize windloading is continuing. Recognize where these windloaded pockets are building up and avoid them.

Avalanche Danger is CONSIDERABLE today.

Natural avalanches possible, potentially destructive avalanches may come near or reach developed areas.

Human triggered avalanches probable especially in windloaded areas.

Wind Loading:

Wind erodes snow from the windward (upwind) side of obstacles, such as a ridge, and deposits the same snow on the leeward (downwind) terrain. Wind loading is a common denominator in most avalanche accidents. And no wonder because wind can deposit snow 10 times more rapidly than snow falling from the sky. Moreover, wind-drifted snow is ground up by bouncing along the snow surface and when it comes to a rest it is often much denser than non-wind loaded snow. In other words, it not only adds significant weight on top of buried weak layers but it forms a slab that can propagate a fracture very easily. Wind can turn very safe snow into very dangerous snow in a matter of minutes. Wind is usually the most important weather factor in avalanche accidents.

Luckily, we can easily recognize wind loaded slopes:

Wind deposited snow:

What does it look like? Smooth and rounded, sometimes called ?pillows? chalky, dull appearance.

Where does it form? Lee terrain (downwind of an obstacle such as a ridge). Often, a cornice overhangs the slopes.

What does it feel like? ?Slabby? or ?punchy,? meaning that denser and stiffer snow overlie softer snow.

What does it sound like? Sometimes sounds hollow like a drum.

Wind eroded snow:

What does it look like? Sandblasted, etched look.

Where does it form? Windward terrain (upwind side of an obstacle, such as a ridge). Often a cornice faces away from the slope.

What does it feel like? Rough, difficult to travel on.

What does it sound like? Noisy from the rough texture.

It?s very important to memorize the look, feel and sound of wind loaded slopes.

Always avoid steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow unless you are experienced, and have checked it out very carefully.