Areas of MODERATE danger exist on mid and upper elevation aspects facing west to north and east where it is possible to trigger a large and dangerous avalanche that may break down 3-10' deep and up to hundreds of feet wide.
The danger for wet avalanches may also rise to MODERATE with direct sun and the excessive heat. Watch for small wet-loose avalanches in steep southerly-facing terrain and have an exit plan that allows you to quickly respond to wet snow activity.
This is probably overdone, but I want to put wet avalanches on your radar for today. We experienced a poor and superficial refreeze overnight and wet avalanches will be possible today with direct sun and the scalding heat.
Remember that wet avalanches and troublesome to get caught up in and set up like concrete. Don't overstay your welcome if the snow becomes wet and unsupportable.
There is a persistent weak layer (PWL) of old faceted snow near the ground with 3-10' of snow on top of it. This PWL exists on mid and upper elevation slopes facing west through north and east. It does not exist on south-facing slopes as any early season snow melted away and December snowfall landed on bare ground. Nikki and her partners were in the Ant Knolls area on the 10th and her observation can be found HERE>
Snowpit tests and observations continue to produce inconsistent results but we do know that weak snow exists near the ground and we do know that many experienced people continue to avoid steep terrain. For now.
Photos that show that the facets at the ground are beginning to round, but the poor snowpack structure still very much exists. (Photo: Weston Shirey, Champion)
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It's the January Thaw. Overnight lows are in the upper 30s and low 40s.
Skies are clear and winds are light from the southwest.
For today, we'll see warm air continue to stream into the state along with a bump in southwest winds. Temperatures will again reach into the 30s and 40s in the mountains.
Tonight's cold front will bring about immediate relief to the temperature regime in the mountains AND improve the air conditions in the valleys but it's a mostly dry cold front and we'll be lucky to see a trace of snow.
High pressure and warm temperatures quickly rebound for the weekend. And beyond.
Wind, sun, and rime crusts dominate the landscape, but soft settled recrystallized powder can be found in the protected northerly terrain. Travel is easy and while powder is scarce, the aesthetic in you can find good things in the mountains.
Who's up for some free avalanche training? Get a refresher, become better prepared for an upcoming avalanche class, or just boost your skills. Go to https://learn.kbyg.org/ and scroll down to Step 2 for a series of interactive online avalanche courses produced by the UAC.
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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
