Storm slabs will likely remain reactive to human triggers, especially in wind-affected terrain and/or where the recently formed slabs are sitting on weak facets.
Choose conservative terrain and watch for signs of instability.
Buried layers from late March reached a tipping point and recently became reactive.
The primary concern is a layer of facets and surface hoar buried 50-80 cm on shaded slopes. On other slopes, this layer is a crust with facets above. Avoid steep open slopes capable of producing large avalanches.
Storm slabs will likely remain reactive to human triggers, especially in wind-affected terrain and/or where the recently formed slabs are sitting on weak facets.
Several skier and helicopter remotely triggered size 2 storm slabs were reported on a variety of aspects at treeline and above on Monday. The slabs were 25-80 cm thick.
Additionally, a very large (size 3) naturally triggered wind slab was reported on a northeast aspect in the alpine.
Observations are limited at this time of year, please consider sharing any information or photos you have on the Mountain Information Network to help guide our forecasts.
The recent storm produced 30-60 cm of snow (above 1500 m) and rain below 700 m. At upper elevations, southwest winds formed wind slabs on north-to-east-facing slopes. The recent snow sits over wind-affected surfaces, weak faceted crystals, or a crust on south-facing slopes.
A weak layer buried at the end of March sits 50-80 cm deep in most areas (potentially over 1m deep in immediate coastal terrain). It includes facets and surface hoar in shaded areas, and a melt-freeze crust elsewhere.
The mid and lower snowpack are considered generally strong and well-bonded. In far northern reaches of the region, basal facets may exist which are currently considered inactive. This layer may become active with abrupt changes to the snowpack, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged warming.
Tuesday night
Partly cloudy / 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -7 C / Freezing level valley bottom
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud / 20 km/h west ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -6 C / Freezing level 800 m
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries; 3-10 cm / 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -4 C / Freezing level 1000 m
Friday
Cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-5 cm / 30 km/h south ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -3 C / Freezing level 1100 m
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
