Large avalanches continue to fail on various weak layers in the snowpack.
Stick to small, low-angle terrain and test conditions before approaching bigger slopes.
Recent snow combined with variable winds have created wind slabs in open areas at upper elevations. Wind slabs could step down to deeper persistent layers.
Three problematic layers of surface hoar, facets, and/or melt-freeze crust exit in the upper 150 cm of the snowpack. People continue to trigger large avalanches on these layers daily, on all aspects and primarily between 1600 m - 2200 m.
Numerous small to large (size 1 to 2) storm slab and persistent slab avalanches occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, with many of them being triggered by humans (including remotely). These avalanches are occurring on all aspects and elevations, including on relatively low-angle slopes below treeline.
It remains likely for people to continue to trigger similar avalanches on the various weak layers described in the Snowpack Summary.
Snowfall over the past week has built up
Previous wind has created variable wind-effect in open areas at upper elevations.
Three persistent layers of concern may be found in the upper 150 cm of the snowpack:
25 to 60+ cm down is a layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas, or a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes from mid-February.
40 to 100+ cm is the early-February layer of surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and a crust on sun-exposed slopes.
70 to 120 cm is the late-January layer of surface hoar and facets over a melt-freeze crust.
All of these layers continue to form large avalanches.
The remainder of the snowpack is strong.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear skies. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -17 °C.
Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
