Choose low consequence terrain.
The combination of ongoing snowfall, strong wind, and a persistent weak layer means avalanches are likely.
A widespread layer of facets sits 70-100 cm deep. this layer was formed during the prolonged cold. It is most likely to be triggered in areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin or by a wind slab avalanche stepping down.
Storm snow and strong wind are forming reactive slabs at all elevations. The largest and most reactive slabs will be found on north facing slopes.
On Wednesday, explosive control in the inland side of the region produced avalanches up to size 3. These avalanches released on a variety of layers including the facets in the lower snowpack. These avalanches entrained significant mass lower in the path.
No other avalanches have been reported in the past 3 days but observations are limited.
Another 10 to 20 cm of storm snow is expected by Sunday afternoon, bringing storm totals to 45 to 70 cm. Alpine terrain is heavily wind-affected. South facing slopes are scoured and north through east slopes have significant amounts of wind deposited snow.
At treeline a small surface hoar layer can be found down 50 to 80 cm.
The lower snowpack is made up of 60 to 100 cm of weak facets with depth hoar in shallow locations.
Snowpack depths vary widely due to wind, around 130 to 250 cm in the alpine across the region.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 40 to 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. Up to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 50 to 80 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
