The Bottom Line: Expect more warm temperatures and sun. If you are heading to upper elevations or less traveled terrain, take time to assess the snow. Avalanches may be possible in isolated or extreme terrain.
Snow and Avalanche Discussion
Warming of the snow surface has a few concerns on our minds. You could trigger isolated loose wet avalanches on sunny slopes with extreme, rocky terrain or areas of shallow snow. If you sink to the top of your boots in wet snow, it's time to move to more supportive, cooler snow. Additionally, cornices commonly fall with prolonged warming. Limit your exposure and avoiding traveling on or below these features.
Monday will be another day of warm temperatures and sun. You may still find soft, wet snow on steep sunny slopes. Most loose wet avalanches you will see are at least a few days old or from a rain event on the 23rd. A number of factors will help keep snow surfaces slightly more frozen on Monday. Air temperatures should drop a bit and an easterly wind will cool the surface snow.
Check out the Regional Synopsis tab for details on the last weeks storm and avalanche activity.
Loose wet avalanches ran on January 23rd with rain. Lichtenberg Mtn, SW. Photo: Josh Hirshberg
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
While they are very difficult to trigger, persistent slab avalanches can be dangerous. With the warm temperatures and recent load, there's uncertainty about these avalanches at upper elevations. The best approach is to pick smaller pieces of terrain, and minimize exposure to large avalanche paths until we can be confident that these avalanches are no longer a concern.
A layer of surface hoar, buried on January 17th, should be 2 to 3 feet down from the surface. The main concern for the weak layer is above 5500ft. Digging in the snow and using snowpack tests can help you confirm if it exists. Try not to make decisions on a single test or snow profile.
