Reactive persistent weak layers, combined with newly forming storm slabs, are keeping avalanche danger considerable at all elevations.
Stick to conservative terrain choices.
Two persistent weak layers of surface hoar/ facets/ crust from Feb 7th and Jan 26th are buried in the upper meter of the snowpack and remain a significant concern. These layers continue to show reacivity at all elevations.
10 - 25 cm of new snow is in the forecast. Storm slabs will be most reactive on lee slopes near ridgetops and in areas where they overlie a new surface hoar layer. Slabs in motion could step down to deeper persistent layers.
The reactivity of weak layers continues: Several natural, skier-triggered and remote-triggered avalanches occurred in the region up to size 3 on Thursday. Many of these avalanches failed on, or stepped down to, persistent weak layers. See photos below for some recent examples.
With more new snow and wind in the forecast, potentially burying another surface hoar layer, we expect the danger to stay elevated for several more days at least.
2 to 10 cm of recent snow has buried a new layer of surface hoar or sun crust in some areas. An additional 10 to 25 cm is in the forecast. This new weak layer may make slabs more reactive and resistant to bonding than usual.
Below that, 15 to 40 cm of older snow may be covering a second reactive layer of surface hoar or a crust from Feb 7th.
Lastly, the late January layer of surface hoar/facets/crust is buried 40 to 80 cm, except near Blue River, where it is over 100 cm deep. This layer continues to surprise people with its reactivity over the past week, especially in sheltered treeline and below treeline features.
The remaining snowpack has no layers of concern
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 0 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 0 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
