Dangerous avalanche conditions exist as a result of new snow, strong winds, and rising temperatures.
New snow, combined with strong winds and mild temperatures, continues to create reactive storm slabs. Weak facets and/or surface hoar may persist beneath the recent snow, increasing storm slab reactivity.
Touchy storm slab conditions were reported in the Pine Pass area on Friday.
With ongoing wind and snow, we anticipate natural wind and storm slab avalanche activity in the coming days, particularly in areas that receive 20 cm or more of new snow.
If you venture into the backcountry, please consider submitting a MIN post.
New snow continues to accumulate across most areas, 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.
Friday Night
Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with 0 to 3 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow (most snow occurring overnight, Saturday to Sunday). 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with 0 to 3 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
