Choose conservative, low-consequence terrain with no overhead hazard.
Reactive storm slabs in combination with buried weak layers are creating dangerous avalanche conditions.
Weak layers of surface hoar and facets/crust could exist in the top meter. Recent snowfall has added significant load to these layers, and could make persistent slabs more likely to trigger.
Up to 60 cm of new snow arrived in the past 24 hours. Reactive storm slabs can be expected, especially in wind-loaded areas.
On Monday, several large (size 2) natural avalanches were observed in wind-loaded north-facing terrain in the alpine. Read the full report here.
Up to 60 cm of new snow has fallen at upper elevations in the past 24 hours. Strong southerly winds will have redistributed this snow into deeper deposits in wind-loaded areas. This new snow overlies a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects and wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations.
40 to 70 cm of storm snow from the past week may be sitting on a layer of surface hoar, facets or a crust.
Another weak layer consisting of a crust with facets from early February is buried 80 to 100+ cm deep.
The remaining snowpack appears to be well settled and bonded.
Tuesday Night
Cloudy. 15 to 25 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Friday
Cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
