Watch for reactive wind slabs at higher elevations, especially where the snowpack is thin or variable. In these areas, avalanches could step down to buried crusts.
Reactive wind slabs may still be present in exposed terrain. In areas with a thinner snowpack, avalanches could be larger than expected, as wind slabs may step down to one of multiple crusts deeper in the snowpack.
A few small (size 1 to 2) rider-triggered avalanches were reported over the weekend. These were primarily around treeline elevations on southerly terrain, failing 10 to 40 cm deep.
On Saturday, a larger skier-triggered avalanche in the Golden area appeared to step down to a buried crust in the lower snowpack. This occurred on a treeline slope with a shallow, thin to thick snowpack.
Recent storm snow is continuing to settle and strengthen. In exposed alpine and treeline areas, wind-affected surfaces remain. On steep, south-facing slopes, a thin sun crust is likely to form overnight.
In the mid-snowpack, a melt-freeze crust exists that was buried in mid-December. This layer is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.
The lower snowpack consists of a thick melt-freeze crust, with weak faceted snow and/or depth hoar near the ground in areas.
Snow depths vary widely across the region, ranging from roughly 100 to 200 cm at treeline.
Wednesday Night
Clear skies. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
Thursday
Cloud building throughout the day. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 0 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
