Choose mellow terrain, and avoid lingering under steep slopes, especially if it's sunny.
Human-triggered avalanches will likely remain a threat over the next few days.
Weak layers from dry, clear, and cold conditions in January persist within the upper 100 cm of snow. These layers have become more reactive with the added stress of new snow and warming temperatures.
A combination of new snow, wind, and mild temperatures have formed reactive storm slabs at all elevations. Slabs could be particularly touchy in wind-loaded features and may be wet at lower elevations
On Monday, widespread small to large (up to size 3) natural and human triggered avalanches continued to be reported. They were most common on north through southeast facing treeline terrain.
Some involved just the recent storm snow, but others failed up to 100 cm deep, on a weak layer buried in late January.
Some avalanches at treeline and below became wet and entrained a lot of debris.
We expect similar avalanches to occur on Wednesday.
30 to 50 cm of settling snow sits atop layers of surface hoar in sheltered terrain and a thin crust on sun-affected slopes.
Below these layers, the upper snowpack is largely faceted and poorly bonded with another layer of surface hoar in sheltered terrain and a thin crust on sun-affected slopes. This layer, buried in late January, varies in depth but generally exists within the upper 100 cm of snow.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with up to 2 cm of snow. 10 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy in the morning, clearing in the afternoon. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1750 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries, as much as 5 cm in some places. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, lighter on the east side of the forecast area. Freezing level falling to 1000 m overnight, rising to 1800 m.
Friday
Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling to near valley bottom overnight, rising to 2250 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
