Just as enough time has passed since our last big storm at the beginning of the month to gain confidence in our snowpack, high pressure has ended with the arrival of more winter storms. The high snow-level associated with the first storm today will add a new concern that we haven’t seen this season, in the form of wet slabs. This will be very limited to a narrow elevation range at the upper end by the upper rain level, and the lower end by the lower extent that slopes are actually covered by enough snow that isn’t anchored by bushes. The most concerning range will be even narrower where rain falls on slopes with enough snow coverage that also have deep faceted weak layers. The rest of our avalanche concerns with this first storm are the more typical wind slab and possible storm slab for areas that receive greater amounts of new snow, which will be especially for the northern half our our forecast area. On the positive side for stability, this storm will be very right-side-up, being dense and heavy to start, and then becoming light overnight as snow levels and temperatures drop dramtically. The deep weak facet layers that we have been discussing that has been found to be most concerning between 9000-10500’ on E-N-W facing slopes will once again become a very valid concern as more snow accumulates overnight.