The avalanche hazard is increasing with the arrival of new snow and wind. We also have a lot of uncertainty about where the deep persistent layer might be triggered. As a result it is a good time to be patient and make conservative terrain choices.
Moderate to strong winds and new snow over the next couple days will build wind slabs in lee areas at treeline and above. These will be easy to trigger so avoid lee loaded areas and minimize your time in areas with wind loading going on above you.
Continued reports of whumphfing on the weak, faceted lower snowpack indicate the potential for human triggering. This likelihood will rise with new snow and wind over the next few days. Triggering the deep facets could result in a large avalanche.
A series of systems will reach the forecast region with light snowfall over each of the next few days. Amounts of about 5 cm each day are expected, though Western regions could see more. Winds will remain strong in the alpine for Tuesday and start to taper off on Wednesday. Treeline temperatures remain mild and steady between -10 and -5 'C.
New snow and moderate to strong SW winds are creating new wind slabs in lee areas at and above treeline. In most areas the upper snowpack of denser snow sits over a weak mid and lower snowpack consisting of facets, depth hoar and crusts. In deeper snowpack areas these weaknesses are less pronounced. Snowpack depths at treeline average 100-160 cm.
No new avalanches observed or reported on Monday. Reports of whumpfing, as well as explosive and skier triggered avalanches up to size 2 on the deep persistent layer of facets and depth hoar have occurred in the last several days, and we expect this layer to continue to be problem for a while. A few smaller wind slabs were also reported recently.
