Conditions have been touchy at tree line and above. We've had new snow these past few days with some steady winds over a surface hoar layer. Keep to conservative terrain until it settles out.
Weather Forecast
Cloudy with light snow most of today with possible clearing this afternoon as higher pressure builds over the region. Freezing levels to remain around 1450m. Light to moderate southwest alpine winds. Skies are to clear this evening with a good overnight freeze. No precipitation expected for tomorrow with increasing cloudiness in the afternoon.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 50cm of recent storm snow. The storm layer sits atop a crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on sheltered north and east aspects. Wind effected snow at treeline and above. The upper 40-50cm of the snowpack is dry above 1700m with moist snow below it. Multiple crusts in the top 1.5m of the snowpack over well settled snow.
Avalanche Summary
1 size 2.0 natural avalanche and 1 size 2.0 natural cornice release yesterday in the highway corridor east of the Rogers Pass summit. From two days ago, skiers triggered slab avalanches to size 1.5 in the Tree Triangle gully, ~2000m, 30-40cm deep, 20m wide and 75m long
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.