East Slopes South

Small avalanches may be easier to trigger on wind-loaded slopes or in terrain approaching 40 degrees. Any avalanche could step down to weaker snow layers to produce larger and consequential avalanches. Consider increasing your margin of safety by choosing slopes less than 35 degrees if you travel near or above treeline.

We expect light to moderate SSE winds to blow recent low-density recent snow and shallow fresh snow into drifts that you can trigger near and above treeline. These slabs may be more reactive than you expect, potentially resting on weak snow grains formed under clearing skies late this past week.

Any avalanches triggered could step down to deeper layers to produce larger avalanches.  Some locations in the East South zone received more than a foot of snow mid-week. This is a significant load for a generally thin and potentially weak snowpack. Strong E-SE winds during the storm likely drifted snow into thicker slabs at mid and upper elevations. While the snowpack frequently adjusts quickly to new snow, that may not be the case this week. Adjacent zones to the north (East Central) and west (West South) both show signs of buried persistent weak layers within the upper snowpack. Persistent grains can linger in the snow and allow you to trigger avalanches well after a storm ended. Avalanches on these layers could be surprising, trigger easily, propagate widely, and run quickly. If you dig in the upper few feet of the snowpack look for weak sugary snow sandwiched between thin crusts. These facet-crust combinations could result in large avalanches. If you see weak layers in the snow or experience collapsing please let us know by submitting an observation.

In some locations, you could find conditions for loose dry avalanches on steep slopes approaching 40 degrees. These avalanches are most dangerous where they can bury you in a gully or push you over a cliff.

At lower elevations, snow fell on ground that was bare prior to this week. Expect tricky travel down in the forest with plenty of obstacles and shallowly buried objects to block your path. 

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.