Warm temperatures continue to consolidate the upper snowpack into cohesive slabs atop a widespread, persistent weak layer.
Recent snow continues to settle into cohesive slabs over the late-January surface hoar/crust/facets layer. Ongoing warm temperatures and sun may further stress this layer, increasing the likelihood of avalanches through the day.
Clear skies and above-freezing temperatures throughout the day will weaken the upper snowpack and potentially lead to wet loose avalanche activity.
A natural avalanche cycle occurred over the weekend with numerous slab avalanches up to size 2, primarily on north though east aspects at treeline and above. These all appeared to fail on the late-January surface hoar/crust/facet layer outlined in the snowpack summary.
Since the natural avalanche cycle, several small (size 1 to 1.5) human-triggered avalanches have been reported on a variety of aspects at treeline and above.
Generally, refrozen and crusty surfaces are expected by Thursday morning, although in some areas the surface snow may remain moist if a full overnight freeze does not occur.
With above-freezing temperatures and sunny skies, moist snow is expected on all aspects and at all elevations by Thursday afternoon.
Approximately 10 to 40 cm of recent snow continues to settle into cohesive slabs over the late-January weak layer. This layer consists of a melt-freeze crust of variable thickness, with a possibility of surface hoar on top and faceted snow above and/or below the crust.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled, with no significant concerns.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear skies. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 3300 m.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 3600 m.
Friday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 3300 m.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
