Up to 60 cm of recent snow has formed reactive storm slabs.
These slabs will be most reactive on wind-loaded slopes and on sunny slopes during periods of strong solar radiation.
Several persistent weak layers exist in the upper metre of the snowpack. Small avalanches in motion may trigger these deeper layers creating very large and destructive avalanches.
Up to 60 cm of recent snow has formed reactive storm slabs. These slabs will be most reactive on wind-loaded slopes and on sunny slopes during periods of strong solar radiation.
Wet loose avalanches will become very likely when the sun comes out. Avoid overhead hazard from steep sunny slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
On Sunday, numerous naturally triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported primarily at treeline and above on a variety of aspects.
Additionally, a snowcat triggered a persistent slab avalanche on the early March Surface hoar layer on a north aspect at treeline.
Numerous explosive triggered storm slab avalanches were reported primarily at treeline on a variety of aspects.
40 to 60 cm of recent snow and southwest winds formed slabs reactive to human triggers.
Concern remains for triggering persistent slab avalanches. These layers include:
Facets/surface hoar/crust from early March buried 40-70 cm.
Facets/surface hoar/crust from mid-February buried 60-100 cm
Facets/surface hoar/crust from late January buried 100-160 cm.
The lower snowpack is well settled and strong.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop winds, treeline temperature -8 °C, freezing level valley bottom.
Tuesday
Sunny, 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop winds, treeline temperature -5 °C, freezing level 1400 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud, 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop winds, treeline temperature -5 °C, freezing level 1500 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with flurries, 5-10 cm snow, 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop winds, treeline temperature -4 °C, freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
