Although a supportive surface crust reduces the likelihood of triggering an avalanche, use caution at higher elevations where the crust may be thinner, weaker, or absent.
Storm slab avalanches remain possible in areas where the surface crust is unsupportive (does not hold your weight) or no surface crust exists.
No new avalanche activity has been reported since the recent warm and wet storm.
Numerous storm slab avalanches, ranging from size 1 to 3, were reported on Tuesday. These occurred on all aspects and elevation bands, and were primarily triggered naturally or by explosives. A few of these avalanches stepped down to a layer of surface hoar described in the snowpack summary.
At higher elevations, recent snowfall amounts remain highly variable due to the recent fluctuating freezing levels; however, dry snow may persist in alpine and some treeline terrain. A widespread crust is present from treeline and below, where recent precipitation fell as rain.
A mid-November crust with facets or surface hoar above is buried 50 to 100 cm deep.
The lower snowpack is generally well settled and bonded, except in thin, rocky areas where weak basal facets may have formed.
Snowpack depth at treeline is roughly 90 to 160 cm, but tapers quickly at lower elevations, meaning many below-treeline slopes do not have the snow coverage to avalanche.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Friday
Cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow at treeline. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 2500 m by the end of the day.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
