Approach all avalanche terrain with cation, triggering avalanches is likely.
New snow continues to slowly build a slab on a dangerous combination of weak surface hoar, facets and a crust.
Snow flurries, warm temps and wind are incrementally building slabs on the weak interface that was buried on January 26th. Even thin slabs may propagate surprisingly far as they fail on the "perfect combination" of surface hoar on a crust.
On Friday and Saturday skier triggered slab avalanches up to size 1.5 occurred in the park failing on the late Jan surface hoar.
Natural avalanches size 2-3 have been observed in the hwy corridor and also reported in neighboring areas over the past few days.
Regionally there have been numerous natural, skier and remotely triggered avalanches also failing on the surface hoar layer.
Wind and warm temps are stiffening up the new snow (20-30cm and counting). This is accumulating over a troubling combination of surface hoar or facets on a crust. The surface hoar is on most aspects and elevations, and is largest (up to 40mm) in sheltered areas below treeline. The crust is firmer on solar aspects.
The mid and lower snowpacks are generally well settled and strong.
Flurry activity will continue bringing regular small additions of new snow with mid mountain freezing levels (FZL).
Tonight: Flurries 5cm. Alpine low -5°C. Moderate SW wind. (FZL) 1400m.
Mon: Flurries 7cm. Low -6°C, high -5°C. Moderate SW wind. FZL 1400m.
Tues: Isolated flurries. Low -5°C, high 1°C. Moderate SW wind. FZL 1700m. Weak inversion.
Wed: Sun & cloud. Low -1°C, high 3°C. Moderate SW wind. FZL 2900m.
