Continually assess conditions as you move through terrain
Cold temperatures are softening the upper snowpack, avalanches are most likely where the snowpack feels “slabby”
Strong outflow (northeast) wind has formed wind slabs on south and west aspects. Cold temperatures may be keeping wind slabs from bonding to the loose, dry snow below. Be especially cautious near ridge crests and rollovers.
Two surface hoar layers can be found in the upper snowpack in sheltered terrain. Activity on these layers is tapering off however human triggering this layer remains a concern in shallow snowpack areas in the alpine.
On Sunday, we received a report of a natural cornice failure which triggered a persistent slab avalanche, size 3, on a steep alpine feature. This avalanche is believed to have occurred on February 8.
On Saturday, a human-triggered, size 1, wind slab avalanche was reported on an open cross-loaded feature at treeline.
Numerous dry loose avalanches were reported. Naturals up to size 1, on steep solar aspects and human triggered, up to size 1.5, on steep polar aspects.
Previous strong to extreme northeast outflow wind has scoured exposed terrain on all aspects at alpine and treeline. In sheltered terrain 10 to 40 cm of faceted snow overlies a surface hoar layer from late January.
Another layer of surface hoar was buried near the middle of January and can be found 30 to 60 cm deep.
A layer of facets and a crust from early December is buried 100 to 200 cm deep. This layer is generally not a concern in this region.
Monday Night
Clear. 15 to 25 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C, potential for temperature inversion with a high of -10 °C in the alpine.
Tuesday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C, potential for temperature inversion with a high of -5 °C in the alpine.
Wednesday
Sunny. 15 to 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C, potential for temperature inversion with a high of -7 °C in the alpine.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 25 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
