Sunny skies may be inviting, but remember that the snowpack needs time to strengthen after the substantial load applied to it. Human-triggered avalanches are expected.
Upwards of 80 cm of snow accumulated over the past few days, stressing a snowpack that may have buried weak layers. Human-triggering remains very likely for Tuesday, including remote triggering.
Many storm and wind slabs were triggered naturally, by riders, and by explosives on the weekend. They ranged from 20 to 80 cm deep, with the deeper avalanches likely failing on the weak layers described in the Snowpack Summary.
Looking forward, human-triggered avalanches remain very likely on Tuesday as the snowpack remains stressed from all the recent snow load.
Upwards of 80 cm of snow has accumulated since the start of the weekend, accompanied with strong southwest wind. A warming trend will increase slab properties.
All this snow is loading a weak surface hoar layer and/or weak faceted snow found 50 to 100 cm deep. Surface hoar is most likely in tree openings sheltered from the wind whereas faceted snow may be found in wind-exposed terrain into the alpine. Below this is a hard melt-freeze crust that formed mid-November.
Average treeline snow depths range from 90 to 140 cm, which tapers quickly at lower elevations.
Monday Night
Cloudy. 15 to 30 cm of snow with local amounts up to 50 cm possible. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy. 15 to 30 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
