Sugarbowl

A cohesive slab rests over a weak layer and may be primed to human triggering. During times of uncertainty, choose conservative terrain.
Check out our latest video conditions update here.

Moderate

• We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.
• We are uncertain due to how buried persistent weak layers will react with the forecast weather.

Several natural slab avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported on Wednesday. Natural and human-triggered avalanches may continue on Thursday.

Up to 25 cm of snow, which turned to rain, fell on Wednesday, adding a new load above the late January surface hoar/facet/ crust interface. This weak layer is found anywhere from 30 to 50 cm beneath the surface. The buried surface hoar is largest on sheltered treeline and below-treeline features.

Strong southwest winds may have formed deeper deposits northeast slopes in the alpine.

By Thursday afternoon, the snow surface is expected to become wet and heavy at most elevations.

Check out this MIN from the Pine Pass for more details on the buried interface.

Wednesday Night
Cloudy. 4 mm of rain at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 2 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Stay away from steep slopes, open slopes, and convex rolls at and below treeline where weak layers may be preserved.
• The more the snowpack warms up and weakens, the more conservative your terrain selection should be.
• Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.
• Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.