Wind slabs in exposed terrain are the main concern. In some areas these slabs may be sitting on a weak layer of surface hoar leading to increased reactivity.
Human-triggerable wind slabs exist below ridges and in cross-loaded terrain on a variety of aspects. A layer of surface hoar buried in early January has kept slabs surprisingly reactive, sometimes propagating well above the trigger.
Avalanche activity over the past few days has been reported as wind slabs both natural and rider triggered size 1-2 in the alpine. At least one of these was reported to run on a layer of surface hoar buried in early January on a southwest aspect in the alpine.
The snow surface is likely wind affected in open areas at all elevations.
20 to 50 cm of snow since early January has been slowly settling on a layer of weak surface hoar crystals that exists into the alpine. This layer has most recently only been reactive where wind slabs have formed above it.
A crust/facet/surface hoar layer from early December may be found 90 to 160 cm deep. Avalanche activity on this layer has tapered in recent weeks.
Tuesday Night
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 1 to 3 cm. 25 to 55 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -11 °C.
Wednesday
Mainly cloudy with sunny breaks. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -8 °C.
Thursday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, accumulation 3 to 5 cm. 15 to 35 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -7 °C.
Friday
Mainly cloudy. 30 to 45 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
