Persistent weak layers remain the primary concern.
People continue to be caught by surprise, triggering large avalanches daily.
Choose low-angle slopes with no overhead hazard.
Variable winds created wind slabs in open areas at upper elevations. These slabs could step down to deeper persistent layers creating larger than expeceted avalanches.
Three reactive and problematic layers of surface hoar, facets, and/or crust exist in the upper 150 cm of the snowpack.
These layers continue to surprise people with remote triggering and releasing on low angle slopes.
Numerous size 1 to 2 wind slab and persistent slab avalanches have been occurring daily in the region. Many of them are being triggered by people, including remotely. These avalanches are occurring on all aspects and elevations, and on surprisingly low-angle slopes below treeline. A few naturally-triggered slabs were also reported on Friday, up to size 3.
Reactivity will likely continue through the weekend, with similar human-triggered avalanches expected.
Variable winds have built wind slabs in open areas at upper elevations, especially near ridgetops.
Three persistent layers of concern may be found in the upper 150 cm of the snowpack:
25 to 60+ cm down is a layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas, or a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes from mid-February.
40 to 100+ cm down is the early-February layer of surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and a crust on sun-exposed slopes.
70 to 120 cm down is the late-January layer of surface hoar and facets over a melt-freeze crust.
All of these persistent layers continue to cause large avalanches in the region.
The remainder of the snowpack is strong.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 0 to 3 cm of snow. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
