Watch for reactive wind slabs at higher elevations, especially where the snowpack is thin or variable.
Loose snow will be impacted by wind in open areas. Check for wind slabs in steep and convex slopes at higher elevations or where new snow covers surface hoar.
Use extra caution in areas with a thin, uniform snowpack (less than 100 cm). These areas are inherently weak, with heavily faceted snow and crusts closer to the surface, making them easier to trigger.
On Monday, numerous natural and human triggered avalanches were reported. These avalanches were mostly size 1 with one larger size 2. These avalanches likely involved a surface hoar layer down 20 to 30 cm.
20 to 30 cm of recent accumulated storm snow covers a variety of old surfaces, including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes.
In the mid-snowpack, a melt-freeze crust exists that was buried in mid-December. This layer is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.
The lower snowpack consists of a thick melt-freeze crust, with weak faceted snow and/or depth hoar near the ground in areas.
Snow depths vary widely across the region, averaging roughly 100 to 200 cm at treeline.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
