Storm slabs sit over a weak layer and are easily triggerable by riders.
Storm slabs sit over a weak layer and remain triggerable by riders. The most likely places to trigger an avalanche are in wind-loaded lee terrain features just below ridgetops and convex rolls.
Over the weekend, numerous storm slab avalanches were reported size 1-2 on all aspects and elevations. They were triggered naturally, by skiers, vehicles and explosives. Some were triggered remotely or sympathetically. Slabs were up to 60 cm deep and ran on a crust or facet layer beneath the storm snow.
50 to 80 cm of snow fell over the weekend. Near ridgetops, recent moderate to strong southwest wind has loaded recent snow into leeward terrain features. Near the coast, the storm snow may contain a thin crust from a brief temperature spike on Friday.
This recent snow is bonding poorly to an underlying weak layer formed during the January drought. Depending on aspect and elevation, the layer may exist as a hard crust, faceted grains and/or surface hoar.
The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and bonded with no other layers of concern.
Sunday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Monday
Cloudy with sunny breaks. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with sunny breaks. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Wednesday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
