Sugarbowl

Warm temperatures are forming cohesive slabs over a widespread weak layer, which may be triggered by people.
During times of uncertainty, stick to conservative terrain.

Moderate

• We are uncertain due to how buried persistent weak layers will react with the forecast weather.
• We are uncertain about how the timing or intensity of solar radiation will affect the snowpack.

Another day of above zero temperatures and sun. Natural and human-triggered avalanches may spike by the afternoon.

On Wednesday, several natural slab avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported.

A thin melt-freeze crust likely exists as high as the alpine. With daytime warming and solar radiation the snow may become wet and heavy. Below this, a 30 to 60 cm cohesive slab sits above the late January surface, hoar/crust/ facet interface. The buried surface hoar is largest on sheltered treeline and below-treeline features.

Strong southwest winds may have formed deeper deposits of recent snow on northeast slopes in the alpine.

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

Thursday Night
Mostly clear skies. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.

Friday
Mostly sunny. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.

Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 5 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.
• The more the snowpack warms up and weakens, the more conservative your terrain selection should be.
• Stay away from steep slopes, open slopes, and convex rolls at and below treeline where weak layers may be preserved.
• Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.