Continue to make conservative terrain choices.
Fresh wind and snow are keeping the avalanche problem alive.
Recent snow and wind have formed reactive slabs. Avalanches will be more likely on leeward slopes and in cross-loaded features. Unexpectedly large avalanches are possible where this storm snow sits on a layer of weak sugary facets.
On Sunday, a few large (up to size 3), explosive triggered wind slab avalanches were reported, along with one natural wind slab. These generally occurred in steep terrain below ridgetops.
Looking forward, with continued snowfall and strong winds, we expect that human triggered avalanches will remain likely.
If you are heading into the backcountry, please share any observations with the Mountain Information Network.
Most areas will get another dose of new snow and strong wind, forming fresh and reactive slabs. Expect to find, deeper, denser, reactive slabs on leeward slopes.
50-75 cm below the surface, a layer of weak, sugary facets buried in late February has been found in some areas. It has not produced many reported avalanches, but it is continuing to react in snowpack tests, and continuing snowfall is increasing the load on this layer.
80-120 cm below the surface is a frozen crust that was buried in earlier February.
The remainder of the snowpack is consolidated with no layers of concern.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 25-60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 15 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 25 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
