Carefully evaluate steep terrain features before committing to them.
Strong outflow (northeast) wind has formed wind slabs on south and west aspects. Cold temperatures may be keeping wind slabs from bonding to the loose, dry snow below. Be especially cautious near ridge crests and rollovers.
Two surface hoar layers can be found in the upper snowpack in sheltered terrain. Activity on these layers is tapering off however human triggering this layer remains a concern in shallow snowpack areas in the alpine.
On Monday, a skier-triggered, size 1, wind slab avalanche was reported on a south aspect at 1400 m. Several small, natural, dry loose avalanches were observed on steep solar terrain below treeline.
On Sunday, we received a report of a natural cornice failure which triggered a persistent slab avalanche, size 3, on a steep alpine feature. This avalanche is believed to have occurred on February 8.
Previous strong to extreme northeast outflow winds have scoured exposed terrain on all aspects at alpine and treeline. Ongoing cold temperatures have softened the surface of wind affected terrain in many areas. In sheltered terrain 10 to 40 cm of faceted snow overlies a surface hoar layer from late January.
Another layer of surface hoar was buried near the middle of January and can be found 30 to 60 cm deep.
A layer of facets and a crust from early December is buried 100 to 200 cm deep. This layer is generally not a concern in this region.
Tuesday Night
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C, temperature inversion with a high of -5 °C in the alpine.
Wednesday
Sunny. 15 to 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 25 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
