Avalanche conditions remain dangerous.
Stick to low angle, conservative terrain without overhead hazard
Several buried weak layers exist in the snowpack, producing large avalanches in the recent storm. This layer is likely still reactive from warm temperatures and snowfall.
Storm snow is expected to remain reactive to human triggers. Deeper and more reactive deposits have likely formed near ridgelines on north and east facing slopes.
On Sunday, human and naturally triggered avalanches up to size 3 occurred in the storm snow and on buried weak layers. Some remote triggers were reported.
A fatal size 2.5 avalanche occurred in a north facing, wind affected feature on Feb 23. The avalanche failed on the facets buried in late January.
Outside of the forecast region, near Golden, there was a fatal avalanche on Feb 17 and a serious involvement on Feb 21. Use The Dangerator for riding in areas without a forecast.
Storm snow totals 20 to 45 cm. Moderate to strong southwest winds have redistributed snow into deeper deposits at treeline and above. Below 1500 m precipitation mostly fell as rain.
Storm snow sits over a surface hoar or crust layer from mid-Feb. Two more weak layers exist: a layer of facets, surface hoar, or crust from late-Jan buried 30 to 50 cm deep, and a layer of facets from early Dec, buried 70 to 120 cm deep.
In many areas, facets or depth hoar exists at the base of the snowpack.
Monday Night
Cloudy with flurries. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level drops to 800 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with isolated flurries in the east, up to 10 cm of snow in the west. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.
Wednesday
Clear skies. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with flurries possible. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0°C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
