Ski quality has turned to garbage and avalanche conditions are very dangerous!
Avoid all avalanche terrain and let the temperatures cool off before planning any mountain activity.
A persistent weak layer (PWL), buried March 5th, is down 60-120cm. Depending on aspect and elevation, this layer may be suncrust, facets &/or surface hoar. Wet loose or storm slab avalanches may step down to this layer resulting in large avalanches. Wed warming event will test of this lingering PWL
Aprrox. 60 of storm snow over the past week arrived with warm temperatures creating a widespread storm slab. Storm slabs are expected to become very reactive as temperatures rise with accompanied rain and wet snow.
Natural wet loose avalanches will be likely as freezing levels rise to 3000m on Wednesday. Wet loose avalanches may be a large enough trigger to wake up our March 5 persistent weak layer.
A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected on Wednesday as freezing levels rise to near mountain top.
Neighboring regions have reported serious incidents and large avalanches. Similar conditions are expected in Rogers pass as we see the same warming trend begin to enter our forecast region.
10-20 cm of Moist snow on the surface up to 2100m on Tuesday has formed a breakable crust at treeline & below.
All elevations have a storm slab approx. 60 cm deep sitting over the March 5th persistent weak layer (PWL). The March 5 PWL consists of a crust &/or surface hoar and is down 60-120cm. There is concern that storm slabs will step down to this PWL and may entrain wet loose snow at lower elevations.
Additional PWL's from Jan/Feb are now buried 140-190cm deep.
Freezing Levels Rising to near mountain top tomorrow. Yikes!
Tonight Scattered wet flurries, 5cm. Wind SW 30-45km/h. Freezing level (FZL) 2300m
Wednesday Cloudy, scattered showers. 4mm precipitation. Alpine high 4 °C. Wind SE 15-25. FZL 3000m
Thursday Snow mixed with rain, 20 cm. Wind SW 10. FZL 2200m
Friday Flurries, 8cm. Light westerly wind gusting to 35
