Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Storm slabs have the potential for wide propagation due to buried weak layers.
Rider triggerable storm slabs will be found at higher elevations. Deposits are likely to be deeper and more reactive on lee slopes.
Be aware of the potential for wide propagation due to buried weak layers.
On Thursday, a skier triggered size 2 persistent slab avalanche was reported. This avalanche was on an east aspect at 2100 m. It released on the layer of surface hoar mentioned in the snowpack summary.
Skiers reported small, reactive deposits of storm snow on unsupported features on Saturday, check out the MIN here. No other avalanches have been reported, but observations are limited.
We expect reactive deposits of new snow will exist, particularly at upper elevations.
Another 10 to 20 cm of snow fell at upper elevations overnight Sunday, bringing the total since Saturday to up to 35 cm in alpine areas. Strong southerly winds are expected to form deeper deposits on north-facing slopes.
A crust or moist snow will be observed on the surface at lower elevations.
40 to 80 cm of snow overlies a crust on south aspects and all aspects below 1800 m from early December. A layer of surface hoar could be found just above this layer in sheltered terrain at treeline.
Snow depths at treeline are around 90 to 140 cm. You can check out a snowpack conditions update here.
Sunday NightCloudy with 10 to 25 mm, falling as snow above 500 m. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1400 m. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Monday
Partly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
TuesdayCloudy with up to 5 mm, falling as snow above 500 m. 30 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with up to 3 mm of precipitation, falling as snow above 500 m. 40 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
