New snow and strong upper-elevation winds may form fresh wind slabs that a person could trigger.
Assess steep slopes for dense or stiff snow before committing.
New snow and shifting strong ridgetop winds may form fresh and reactive wind slabs. These will likely be isolated to lee features near ridgelines at higher elevations.
Dry loose sluffing may exist in steep terrain features.
On Monday, wind slabs up to size 2 were reactive to rider triggering. This may continue on Wednesday with the recent snow and shifting winds. Dry loose sluffing may be seen from steep terrain features.
At treeline and above, 8–12 cm of new snow sits on top of faceted snow or surface hoar. The upper snowpack is mixed: wind-affected in open areas and softer in sheltered spots, all resting on a crust from early November. Lower in the snowpack, there are several crusts, and in some areas a weak, sugary facets can be found near the ground.
Total snowpack depths are roughly 80 to 120 cm, tapering quickly at lower elevations.
In many areas, especially below treeline, there is not enough snow to smooth out surface roughness or reach the threshold needed for avalanches.
Mostly clear skies. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 5 cm of snow at treeline. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow at treeline. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Mix of sun and clouds. 4 to 10 cm of snow at treeline. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
