When avalanche danger is high, adjust your plans.
Seek only non or simple avalanche terrain with no overhead hazards.
A reactive layer of surface hoar is buried around 1 m deep. Additional snow load and warming will increase the likelihood of triggering, as well as the size of avalanches running on this layer.
New snow and wind are building fresh and reactive slabs.
Expect wet loose to be very sensitive to triggering on steep terrain at treeline elevations and below.
On Sunday a few small storm slab avalanches where reported, failing on a the surface hoar layer. These avalanches were in areas protected from the wind, such as small opening in areas of dense trees.
Last week, large natural persistent slab avalanches were widespread size 2 to 3.5.
Up to 90 cm of recent snow has been transported by strong south winds. In areas protected from the wind, a surface hoar layer can be found down 100 cm.
The prominent mid-December crust is now buried around 1.5 m deep, and is present up to 2300 m. Triggering this layer is considered unlikely, except with large loads or in thin snowpack areas.
Monday Night
Cloudy. 15 to 25 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy. 1 to 2 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
