Although the likelihood of triggering a persistent slab avalanche is decreased, the consequence of doing so would be catastrophic.
Two weak layers persist in the top metre of the snowpack. These layers could release from large loads such as a cornice fall or by humans where the snowpack is relatively thin.
Over the weekend we received a few reports of large persistent slab avalanches. They occurred in alpine terrain on all aspects. They likely released from daytime warming and from cornice falls.
It remains possible that similar avalanches could release going forward. A cooling trend with some precipitation may decrease the likelihood of release, but the consequence of being caught in such an avalanche would be catastrophic.
A hard melt-freeze crust caps the snowpack on sun-exposed slopes and on all aspects at treeline and lower elevations. The crust may soften and melt during daytime warming, particularly on sun-exposed slopes. Shady high alpine slopes have 10 to 20 cm of soft snow that overlies hard snow.
Two layers of surface hoar on shaded slopes and a crust on sun-exposed slopes may be found in the top metre of the snowpack.
A widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 70 to 130 cm deep. This crust has a weak layer of facets above it that are slowly strengthening.
The remainder of the snowpack is settled.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level near valley bottom.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
