Start on small, low angled features to assess how the recent snow is bonding.
After a dry, cold period, the snowpack may need more time than usual to adjust to the new load.
Recent snow fell with strong southwest wind and warm temperatures. This made a slab of snow.
Weak facets and/or surface hoar may persist beneath the recent snow, increasing storm slab reactivity.
Avalanche reports have slowed down after the stormy period. However, looking forward to Wednesday, snowpack tests and remote avalanches suggest that a weak layer still exists under the recent storm snow, and is primed for human triggering.
Monday: several natural and human triggered avalanches were reported. A few were remote triggered, suggesting a touchy weak layer.
Sunday: A natural avalanche cycle (up to size 2.5) was reported on all aspects at all elevations.
15 - 30 cm of recent snow, accompanied by strong southwest alpine winds has likely created deep deposits of new snow and fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain.
This recent snow has buried wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain, or surface hoar, and a faceted upper snowpack in sheltered areas. Layers formed during dry conditions in January are buried approximately 30 to 100 cm below the surface. These consist of surface hoar, faceted grains, and/or a hard crust, and are a likely source of instability with the addition of the new snow and warming temperatures.
The lower snowpack is generally well-settled.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with 2 to 4 cm of snow, possibly more around Pine Pass. Possibly sunny in the afternoon. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m or higher by the end of the day.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, possibly none on the east slopes of the Rockies. 40 to 65 km/h southwest ridgetop wind on the west side of the region, 10 to 25 km/h on the east side. Freezing level 1500 m.
Friday
Mostly sunny. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom overnight and back up to 1500 m through the day.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
