With mid-storm conditions, the best skiing will be found in the trees. Natural avalanches could easily run full-path today, so avoid overhead hazards when traveling through the valley bottoms.
Weather Forecast
We are mid-storm at Rogers Pass. Expect 13cm of accumulation today with strong SW winds gusting to 70km/hr. Freezing levels will rise to 1400m this afternoon. Another 13cm will fall tonight before a weak and fleeting ridge of high pressure builds in on Saturday afternoon. More precipitation and decreasing temperatures are in store for next week.
Snowpack Summary
15cm fell overnight bringing the storm total to 40cm. Strong southerly winds have contributed to loading of lee features and the formation of widespread storm slabs. The Feb 14 layer, down ~70cm, is a crust everywhere but N aspects above 1600m where pockets of surface hoar may lurk.
Avalanche Summary
4 size 2 natural avalanches were observed in steep terrain facing the highway corridor east of Rogers Pass. Yesterday a field team ski cut a small size 1 avalanche on a steep roll on the Balu Pass headwall that failed down 35cm at the storm snow interface.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems 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 Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.