A buried weak layer remains a concern in the alpine. Use good travel habits to avoid getting caught off guard.
Read our Forecasters' Blog for details on a persistent slab problem in the region
A preserved layer of surface hoar is found down 30 to 60 cm. At higher elevations, the weak layer is not capped by a rain crust and may be reactive to human-triggers.
No recent persistent slab avalanche activity has been reported but the weak layer continues to be reactive in snowpack tests. These layers are most likely to be reactive to triggering in shallow snowpack areas at higher elevations.
If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
A dusting of snow has buried a layer of surface hoar and sun crust. A prominent rain crust is found 30 to 60 cm deep. While the dry snow above the crust is bonding well, in some areas below the crust is a layer of large weak surface hoar crystals. It may be possible to trigger this surface hoar layer in areas where the crust is thinner and less supportive, with higher-elevation terrain being the most suspect. Typical snowpack depths at treeline are 70 to 110 cm, and taper rapidly below treeline.
Monday Night
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 2 cm accumulation, alpine wind southwest 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing levels drop to 1300 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with scattered flurries, 2 to 6 cm accumulation, alpine wind southwest 40 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -3°C, freezing level 1300 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, alpine wind west 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -2°C, freezing level 1500 m.
Thursday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, alpine wind west 40 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -2°C, freezing level 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
