Start on small, low angled features to assess how the snow is bonding.
Recent snow will take time to bond with the old surface.
Recent snow fell with strong southwest wind and warm temperatures. This made a slab of snow.
Weak facets and/or surface hoar may persist beneath the recent snow, increasing storm slab reactivity.
Sunday: A natural avalanche cycle of large (size 1 to 2.5) was reported in the region on all aspects at all elevations
Saturday: Avalanches reported in the pine pass area. Natural and remote triggers in a variety of terrain and at all elevations. Check out this MIN for more information.
Friday: Touchy storm slab conditions were reported in the Pine Pass area with remote triggering of small steep features .
New snow continues to accumulate across the region adding up to 15 - 30 cm of new snow, accompanied by strong southwest alpine winds. This has created deep deposits of new snow and fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain.
New snow has buried older wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain, or surface hoar, and a faceted upper snowpack in sheltered areas. Layers formed during dry conditions in January are buried approximately 30 to 100 cm below the surface. These consist of surface hoar, faceted grains, and/or a hard crust, and could become a source of instability with the addition of the new snow and warming temperatures.
The lower snowpack is generally well-settled.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy with flurries. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 20 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
