Storm snow continues to accumulate, and the likelihood of human-triggered avalanches remains elevated, particularly in wind-loaded terrain and steep slopes near treeline.
Storm slabs are present at all elevations. Recent winds have created dangerous conditions on leeward alpine slopes, while a buried surface hoar layer at treeline and below may produce surprisingly touchy conditions in sheltered areas.
Numerous natural, explosive, and rider-triggered avalanches have been reported since Tuesday, ranging in size from 1 to 2.5 on all aspects and elevations.
Several of these avalanches occurred below treeline, sliding on buried surface hoar, and releasing in surprisingly low-angle terrain.
A few explosive-controlled avalanches have failed on the mid-November crust, all size 2 or smaller.
Approximately 40 to 70 cm of recent storm snow now overlies potential weak layers of faceted snow at higher elevations and surface hoar at lower elevations.
A mid-November melt-freeze crust is buried 50 to 100 cm below the surface at lower-alpine elevations (around 2400 m) and below, but this crust appears to be absent in higher-alpine terrain.
Snowpack depths at treeline range from 90 to 140 cm and decrease rapidly at lower elevations.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
