Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Fair - Wind effect is extremely variable
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperature -17.0 and ridgetop winds light from the South. Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with sunny periods and flurries. Alpine temperatures -17.0 and ridgetop winds light from the North.Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures near -11.0 and ridgetop winds light-moderate from the East. Possible alpine temperature inversion.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity reported.
Snowpack Summary
Temperatures have remained cool even with solar radiation, and now the temperatures have dropped to very cold with the influence of arctic air sliding down from the Northeast. Surfaces are seeing significant new surface hoar growth and surface facetting, especially in treeline and below. The early February weak layer of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is buried down about 35-90 cm. The snow above the crust has been transported by Southwest winds and then reverse loaded by Easterly or Southeast winds. Cold temperatures have not settled the snow above the weak layer into a cohesive slab, and the cold has preserved the weak layer and associated crusts. I suspect that there will not be much change or improvement in the bonding of the late February snow to the crusts and facets. Snow pack tests may help to show when this layer demonstrates more resistance to added forces.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 4
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 4