While avalanche hazard is improving with cooling temperatures, human-triggered persistent slab avalanches remain a concern in areas not capped by a thick surface crust.
Concern remains for human-triggering the persistent weak layer on sheltered north aspects above 1800 m. If triggered, avalanches will be large and destructive. Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
Small wet loose avalanches may be reactive to human triggering in steep sun affected terrain if solar input is strong and the snow surface becomes moist.
No new avalanches were reported in the region on Thursday.
If you are heading into the backcountry please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network. We read every report!
A dusting of snow overlies a melt-freeze crust that varies in thickness but is present at all elevations. The exception is on direct north-facing terrain above 1900 m where the snow surface remained dry through the prolonged warming. Below the crust, the upper 30 cm of the snowpack remains moist.
60 to 170 cm down is a layer of facets overlying a crust. This layer was reactive to human triggering last weekend and it continues to be reactive in snow pit tests. It remains a concern on northerly aspects above 1800 m, where the layer is still possible to human-trigger.
Below the crust, the snowpack is well settled.
Friday Night
Mainly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing levels 1000 m.
Saturday
Mainly sunny. 15 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing levels 1700 m.
Sunday
Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing levels 1600 m.
Monday
Partly cloudy with 0 to 1 cm of snow. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing levels 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
