Warm temps, sun, and persistent weak layers are creating tricky conditions
Choose conservative low-angle terrain with no overhead hazard.
Check out this forecaster blog on conditions.
Previous strong southerly winds built wind slabs on lee slopes. These winds affected areas farther downslope than normal and could be especially reactive where they overlie surface hoar.
Several persistent weak layers of surface hoar, facets or crusts may exist in the top meter of the snowpack. Wind slabs or wet loose sluffs could step down to this layer, causing larger than expected avalanches.
Sun and rising temperatures will melt the surface snow on sunny slopes and at lower elevations, creating the potential for wet loose sluffs. Avoid steep sun-exposed slopes and overhead hazard when the snow surface is wet.
On Sunday, A natural cycle up to size 3 was observed on solar aspects with strong sun.
In the past few days, numerous skier-triggered persistent slab avalanches have occurred up to size 2. The majority of these avalanches happened on north through east aspects. Notably, these slabs have mostly occurred at treeline and below, and on lower-angle slopes.
A fatal, human-triggered (size 3.5) wind slab was triggered on Tuesday. MIN post here
Strong to extreme southerly winds have created widespread wind effect and built wind slabs on lee slopes.
A melt-freeze crust can be found on sunny slopes and at lower elevations. This surface crust will likely soften with sun and daytime warming.
A couple of persistent weak layers buried in the last week may exist in the upper 30 to 60 cm of the snowpack. These consist of surface hoar, facets and crusts.
Buried around 60 to 100 cm is a prominent, persistent weak layer of facets and crust from early February.
The remaining snowpack appears to be strong and well-bonded.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear skies. 15 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.
Monday
Sunny. 20 to 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 cm of snow. 30 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
