The widespread avalanche cycle over the past 72 hours has slowed. One more day of elevated freezing levels on Thursday will mean having some patience until things cool off, which should happen on the weekend.
Recently formed slabs sit on facets produced during the January cold snap, and surface hoar/suncrust is found below these facets. This unstable combination has caused multiple avalanches over the last week. While the temperatures are warm, avalanches are still likely on this layer.
Previous rain to 2200 m and warm temperatures have saturated the snowpack below treeline. This problem will likely diminish and then disappear on the weekend.
The base of the snowpack consists of weak facets and depth hoar, and the overlying midpack and crusts continue to break down. Human and natural triggering of these basal facets in steep terrain, large planar slopes, and thin to thick areas remains elevated until things cool off.
Previous widespread avalanche activity has occurred over the past 72 hrs. This includes natural wet loose avalanches up to size two on all aspects below treeline and on some steep solar aspects at higher elevations, and natural and explosive triggered avalanches up to size 2.5 failing on various facet, crust and basal facet weak layers at treeline and above. Avalanche control on Mt. Field Wednesday did not produce many avalanches, and overall activity has slowed.
Previous rain and current warm temperatures have soaked the snowpack up to 2200 m, with moist surface snow even higher. Strong SW winds are creating wind slabs in alpine/treeline areas. Jan 19 facets from the cold snap are 10-30 cm deep, with the Dec 31 surface hoar/sun crust 30-50 cm deep. Two crusts (Dec 22 and Dec 5) exist in the mid-pack up to 2300m. The lower snowpack comprises weak facets and depth hoar in most areas. Treeline snow depths range from 70 -120 cm.
Thursday - Freezing levels 2300-2400m with decreasing SW winds and mainly cloudy.
Friday - Freezing levels 1800-2000m with light SW winds and some flurries
Saturday - Freezing levels near valley bottom with some light to moderate snow amounts and light NE winds
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