High pressure will remain in control of our weather for one more day. We've had enough of boring sunny days and we are ready for tomorrow's storm. Before we get into that, let's focus on today's stability. Isolated pockets of slab are still a concern, particularly on the right side of Tuckerman Ravine. While all forecast areas are posted at Low, it is important to remember that this does not mean no avalanche danger. Good route finding skills are important in order to stay out of the potentially unstable areas. The cold snap that we've had this week has caused some snowpack changes to occur that are worth noting. We have had faceted crystals developing, particularly in the upper snowpack and in the newest layers of lighter density snow that were deposited earlier this week. We even have some surface hoar scattered around from the clear cold nights and light winds. These two developments raise our eyebrows a little when we think of tomorrows snow and how it may bond to the existing snow. Be prepared for some "sweet spots" where new snow, especially slab, is very touchy due to these potential weak layers. Now let's get to the gravy. A winter storm will be moving into our area tomorrow and we expect somewhere around 6" (15 cm) of snow. Some forecasts have commented on the upslope flow and how this could increase precipitation amounts in the mountains. Others feel that 6" is on the upper end of the potential total accumulation. Check tomorrow's advisory for a more updated idea of how this is playing out. The storm will come in with SE winds that will shift to the west late tomorrow. It is another quick moving system and should be done in most areas by tomorrow night. This storm is likely to affect the stability of the snowpack over the weekend. If you plan on heading up here this weekend you will need to keep your plans flexible.

Don't wait any longer to refresh your avalanche skills. Pull out your beacon, practice, and spend a couple bucks on a fresh set of high quality batteries. Review your safe travel rules, techniques for assessing snow stability, and sign up for an avalanche course. We have all the avalanche courses offered in the Valley this winter on our website, tuckerman.org. Christmas is coming soon, so sign yourself or a loved one up now!