A hard crust on the snow surface will reduce the likelihood of triggering buried weak layers, but the consequences of an avalanche on these layers remain high.
Buried weak layers were reactive last week. Although their likelihood is decreasing, the consequences of triggering an avalanche on these layers are high.
Last week, a flurry of very large, scary persistent slab avalanche activity was reported at alpine and treeline elevations. Naturals and remotely triggered slabs size 2 to 3 showed wide propagation, with crowns 50 to 100+ cm deep. These avalanches are becoming less likely, but consequences of triggering one remain high.
A dusting of new snow sits over a widespread surface crust.
60 to 80 cm of well-settled snow sits over a weak layer of facets and surface hoar buried in mid February. Recent snowpack tests indicate this layer may finally be starting to gain strength.
Another weak layer, from late January, is buried 80 to 120 cm deep. This may present as a crust on sunny slopes, sugary facets in most places, and surface hoar in sheltered spots. Large natural, remote and human-triggered avalanches were reported on this layer last week.
For more details, check out Zenith's snowpack update from Friday.
Monday night
Cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2°C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Wednesday
5 to 10 cm of snow overnight then clearing. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1°C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing level 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
