Continually assess conditions as you move through terrain
Cold temperatures are softening the upper snowpack, avalanches are most likely where the snowpack feels “slabby”
Strong outflow (northeast) wind has formed wind slabs on south and west aspects at all elevations. Be especially cautious near ridge crests and rollovers.
Two surface hoar layers from January can be found in the upper snowpack in sheltered terrain. These layers have produced large rider triggered avalanches.
On Saturday, a human-triggered, size 1, wind slab avalanche was reported on an open cross-loaded feature at treeline.
Numerous dry loose avalanches were reported. Naturals up to size 1, on steep solar aspects and human triggered, up to size 1.5, on steep polar aspects.
On Wednesday, a size 2.5 remotely triggered persistent slab avalanche was reported. This avalanche was on a northwest aspect in the alpine and ran on the surface hoar from late January.
Previous strong to extreme northeast outflow wind has scoured exposed terrain at all elevations. 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.
Sunday Night
Clear. 10 to 25 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.
Monday
Sunny. 15 to 25 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Tuesday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C, potential for inversion with warmer temperatures in the alpine.
Wednesday
Sunny. 10 to 15 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C, potential for inversion with warmer temperatures in the alpine.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
