Natural avalanches are expected as more snow and strong winds continue to load the snowpack
Avoid exposure to avalanche terrain.
Further snowfall adds more stress to buried weak layers. Facets, surface hoar and crusts in the snowpack may be more reactive, producing widely propagating avalanches.
Widespread storm slabs are expected to form, with wind affect creating deep, sensitive deposits in north and east facing terrain features.
A widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 3 has occurred. Most activity occurred on north through east aspects at treeline and alpine elevations.
Several avalanches have reportedly run on the mid February surface hoar. Further loading by snow and wind will likely trigger another natural cycle.
By Sunday afternoon, another 20-60 cm of storm snow will bring recent storm totals to 180 cm on the immediate coast and taper to 70 cm away from the coast.
New snow is again accompanied by strong to extreme southwest wind, forming deeper deposits on north and east facing terrain. In sheltered terrain surface hoar or a sun crust sits below the storm snow.
Several weak layers of crust, surface hoar or facets are buried 95 to 180 cm deep. These layers are most concerning in sheltered treeline features.
Below, the remaining snowpack is generally well settled and bonded.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 25 cm of snow, heavier amounts possible in immediate coastal terrain. 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 70 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
