High Intensity Snowfall - 89 North

After a brief lull in the storm during the mid morning, snowfall rates increased dramatically up to 4''/hour.  Moderate to strong SW winds were transporting snow in open areas near and above treeline.  Along a corniced ridge, ski kicks released small wind slab avalanches that had been building throughout the storm.  Up to 3' of new storm snow in wind protected areas existed on top of a rain soaked layer topped with a rain crust.  Storm slab instabilities increased in size and scope during today's rapid snow loading.  A test pit and snowpack tests showed some weakness within the recent storm snow along with weakness in the wet snow below the storm snow.  We stuck to non avalanche terrain well below 30 degrees which made movement difficult in the deep snow.