As a storm moves into the state, new snow will fall on a variety of surfaces, depending on aspect and elevation. The storm snow will likely be quite reactive to human and machine traffic across aspects and elevations. However, accumulation amounts are expected to be a foot or less, keeping hazard low, despite its reactive quality.  Expect deeper storm slabs on leeward slopes near and above treeline, particularly in areas that favor a southwest flow like Crested Butte and Marble. Tomorrow's warm-up will likely bring increased activity.  

Protracting large, dangerous avalanches breaking on the January 19 facets, or perhaps even deeper, on the December 11 facet layer remain the biggest concern. New snow today will not be enough to increase this hazard, but it hasn't gone away either. 

In shallower parts of the region, where a thinner slab overlies the weak facets near the ground, cracking and whumphfing are still prevenient with propagating test results. These signs signal continued instability in the snowpack. A heightened awareness while traveling in and around all avalanche terrain in these areas remains necessary. If you find less than about 130cm of total snow with a stiffer layer over weaker snow, use extra caution. The Castle Creek Basin in the Aspen zone is an example of one of these places.

In other areas, like around Leadville, the slab was thin enough and the temperatures are cold enough, the slab over the weak layer has faceted out the slab. Only the weak layer remains, leaving less avalanche hazard in its wake.

Some places have 125cm of snow or more over the weak facets near the ground. Triggering an avalanche in these areas is less likely. However, a large and deadly could result if you find a thinner area. Trigger points are usually found around shallow, rocky areas near cliff bands, roll-overs, along the edges of the slope, or near a ridge. These shallow trigger points are not always visible and may be covered by just an inch or two of snow. The northwest corner of the Gunnison zone, as well as the southwest corner of Aspen, and parts of Grand Mesa are likely places to find these conditions. 

The bottom line comes down to surface instabilities won't increase the hazard in many places. The persistent weak layer of facets buried in the snowpack keeps the white dragon of large deadly avalanches lurking across the region in all avalanche terrain. Travel accordingly.