West Slopes North

Small avalanches will occur in the few inches of snow we received Sunday into Monday. Unless you are above trees or cliffs, or in a gully, they will remain small enough to not cause harm. Beneath the new snow lies potentially treacherous surfaces, such as slick or variable punchy crusts to stay alert for as you travel.

Only a few inches of snow, if that, fell on Sunday and is tapering off on Monday. Expect small loose avalanches to slide on steep slopes in the new snow. Winds may gust strong enough to transport snow near ridgelines, where you may see small wind slabs. These slabs could fail in terrain greater than 38 degrees with you acting as a trigger.  

Alone, these avalanches are not very dangerous, as they are too small. Stay conscious of the possibility of an avalanche when you are near terrain traps where consequences could be more severe. Another concern is the old snow surface beneath the small amount of new snow: many slopes, especially southerly aspects, had a hard, icy layer on the surface. The new snow will slide easily and further on the slick surface. On all other aspects you may find persistent weak layers at the old snow surface contributing to a weak interface and higher likelihood of avalanches in the new snow. Check out some of the weak layer observations here and here.  

Challenging conditions were the biggest danger this past week, with hard and variable snow surfaces hindering travel. Expect to continue finding difficult conditions under the few inches of new snow. If you fall or get knocked off balance by an avalanche on a steep slope you could have a long ride on the slippery surface. At lower elevations open creeks present a problem, as well as downed trees and branches from the wind event on Jan 12. Check out this observation for a great description of travel conditions on Saturday.

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.