Strong winds and heavy precipitation will rapidly increase avalanche danger.
If you find greater than 30 cm accumulation, treat the danger as HIGH
The recent storm snow is not bonding well to the underlying weak layers. This problem is most prevelant at treeline and above in wind loaded features.
Numerous size 1 skier triggered storm and wind slab avalanches were reported over the weekend. These avalanches were typically at treeline or above on north and east aspects. Reports indicate that the recent storm snow is not bonding well to the underlying weak layers as these avalanches were easy to trigger.
New snow falls on 15 to 25 cm of snow from the weekend, which fell with southerly wind, forming deeper slabs on northerly aspects. In sheltered terrain this new snow may overlie soft, faceted snow or surface hoar. In exposed terrain it will overlie a sun crust or wind-affected snow.
At lower elevations a new crust likely exists below the storm snow.
A late-January weak layer (hard crust, facets, or surface hoar) is buried 80 to 120 cm deep, this layer could become reactive the more the precipitation adds load on it.
The lower snowpack is strong and bonded.
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with up to 18 mm of mixed precipitation. 25 to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1400 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 15 to 50 mm of mixed precipitation. 50 to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1400 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 10 to 40 mm of mixed precipitation. 30 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1000 m.
Friday
Cloudy with 10 to 50 mm of mixed precipitation. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
