Minimize your exposure to wind affected slopes.
Fresh and reactive wind slabs are expected to form and persistent weak layers remain a concern.
Deep deposits are expected near ridgelines, and lower on the slope in areas that received stronger winds. Avoid hollow, drum-like sounding snow.
A weak layer of surface hoar and/or facets produced avalanche activity during the recent storm. This layer is likely still reactive from warm temperatures and snowfall.
On Sunday, storm and persistent slab avalanches were reported to size 2, both naturally and human triggered. Avalanches occurred within the storm snow and on the buried weak layer from late January. Lower elevations saw wet avalanche activity due to rainfall.
We expect natural activity to taper off, but human triggering to remain possible especially in wind affected features.
Storm totals are expected to reach 45 cm by Tuesday afternoon. Moderate to strong west/southwest winds have redistributed this snow into deep deposits at treeline and above, likely stripping slopes that face into the wind. Below 1600 m precipitation mostly fell as rain.
A persistent weak layer of surface hoar or facets from late January is buried 40 to 60 cm deep (see photo below). This layer is expected to be more reactive with the warmer temperatures and new snow/ rain. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled.
Monday Night
Cloudy with 5 cm of snow possible. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow possible. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, easing slightly over the day. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.
Wednesday
Mostly clear skies with 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise to 2000 m, treeline temperatures of +1 °C.
Thursday
Mostly clear skies with increasing afternoon cloud. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise to 2100 m, treeline temperatures of +2 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
