Dry snow may remain in high elevation northerly terrain however, this is also triggering weak layers is most likely. Manage this high-consequence snowpack with low-consequence terrain.
Weak layers from January and February persist within the upper 100 cm of snow. As temperatures cool, natural avalanche activity will likely taper off, but human triggering potential will persist.
On Saturday, numerous natural and human-triggered avalanches were reported up to size 3.5 across various elevations and aspects. Many of these avalanches failed on the late January persistent weak layer.
Natural avalanche activity is expected to taper off on Monday as temperatures cool; however, human triggering potential will persist.
Read more in our Forecasters' Blog.
Above 1500 m, a few centimeters of snow accumulates atop a melt-freeze crust, which covers surfaces on all aspects except northerly slopes above 2000 m where surfaces remained dry. Below 1500 m, the snow surface may remain moist.
A weak layer is found 30 to 50 cm down and is composed of facets, surface hoar, or a crust. Another persistent weak layer, buried in late January, lies 50 to 100 cm deep across the region. This layer also consists of surface hoar/facets or a crust, depending on aspect.
The remaining snowpack is well-settled and strong.
Sunday Night
Increasing cloud. 25 to 35 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Monday
Mainly cloudy with light flurries, 2 to 6 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with light flurries, 5 to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4°C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
