We haven't had significant snowfall in awhile, but it is not time to start stepping out yet.
Skiers/riders could still trigger large avalanches on the persistent weak layer.
Make plans to ski conservative slopes with limited overhead exposure, and stick to them.
Just as old windslabs are becoming less reactive, increasing winds Saturday into Sunday will refresh this problem. Expect increasing reactivity in the immediate lees of alpine ridges or cross loaded areas.
This crust-facet combo (Feb 3rd) was created by a rain event followed by an extended cold, clear period without snow earlier this month. 80-140cm now sits on the persistent weak layer. Human triggered avalanches on this layer remain possible, and resulting avalanches could be very large in size.
On Thursday, we observed fresh naturally triggered size 3 slab avalanches from Catamount Mtn SE face and Mt. Leda NE face. These were both deep slabs, suspected to have failed on the Feb 3rd crust.
On Monday, a field crew remote-triggered a sz 1 on the Feb 3 crust while approaching a snow profile site.
We continue to see daily reports in the region of human triggered avalanches on the Feb 3rd layer.
Intense spring sun has created a thin surface crust on South & West aspects.
Variable winds have created soft wind slabs at ridgetop on most aspects. Expect significant wind effect below glaciers due to strong downflow winds.
80-140cm of settled snow sits atop a sugary facet layer. These facets are not bonding well to the widespread, very firm crust from Feb 3rd. This crust is a significant persistent weak layer and will be the main layer of concern for the foreseeable future.
A cold front moving inland gives modest snowfall amounts and increasing winds Saturday afternoon into Sunday.
Tonight: Clear periods. Alpine low -6°C. Light Southerly ridgetop winds.
Sat: Cloudy, pm flurries (5-10cm). Alpine high -1°C. Freezing level (FZL) 1800m. Increasing SW winds (extreme gusts by the PM).
Sun: Flurries (5-10cm). Low -9°C, High -5°C. Gusty mod SW winds.
Mon: Flurries (~5cm).
