Watch for reactive wind slabs at higher elevations, especially where the snowpack is thin or variable.
Fresh snow will be most reactive under ridgetop features or areas with accumulations deeper than 20 cm. Check for wind slabs in steep, exposed terrain at higher elevations.
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.
No recent avalanches have been reported in the last few days.
Last Wednesday, near Golden, a size 2.5 avalanche was reported, likely triggered by warming alpine temperatures and strong solar input. The slide released on a steep, wind-loaded, ridgetop slope with a generally shallow snowpack. See MIN report here.
Additionally, near Panorama, a size 1.5 skier-triggered avalanche occurred in a very shallow area, likely failing on a layer of facets. See MIN report here.
A dusting of new 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.
Saturday night
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. Up to 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. Up to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level 300 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
