While avalanche hazard is improving with cooling temperatures, human-triggered persistent slab avalanches remain a concern in areas not capped by a thick surface crust.
This weak layer has slowly been gaining strength however concern remains for human-triggering the layer on sheltered north aspects above 2000 m. If triggered avalanches will be large and destructive.
No new avalanches have been reported in the region.
If you are heading into the backcountry please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network. We read every report!
A dusting of snow overlies a crust capping a moist upper snowpack on all but north-facing terrain above 2000 m.
A significant crust/facet layer is buried 100 to 250 cm deep. This layer was the culprit in many very large avalanches through the extended warm period. Uncertainty remains around how long this layer will remain triggerable as temperatures cool.
Below the crust, the snowpack is well settled.
Sunday night
Increasing cloud. 10 to 20 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Monday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 10 to 15 cm of snow. 40 to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
