State of the Snowpack: Consecutive Weeks of High Pressure Comes to an End

Featured Image: Gabe Rovick

It kind of feels like I'm beating a dead horse by saying this, but it's been a rough winter across the Western United States. December provided ample snow for our friends in the Great White North but unfortunately, most of that precipitation fell as rain in the U.S. The new year offered a decent refresh but with basically non-existent snowpacks, it left much to be desired in terms of sendable snow. Two weeks into February and we're just now seeing the first significant storm cycle take hold from California and Oregon to Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. While this is certainly cause for celebration—for our environment, at the very least, it’s important to note the unstable snowpack this new storm snow is falling on top of. 

While high pressure after a storm can help unstable layers heal, extended sun and cold temperatures are the perfect recipe for developing surface hoar—those beautiful feather-like ice crystals on the surface of the snow. They’re pretty to look at and are actually enjoyable to ski through, but all of that beauty comes crashing down like a house of cards. As this storm continues to drop new snow, and another storm cycle rolls in next week, we’re looking at increasing avalanche danger across the board. As of Friday, February 13, we’re looking at moderate avalanche danger from California to Oregon, to Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. Depending on where you’re at in the state, Colorado is a mixed bag at the moment, with a considerable rating in the Aspen and Crested Butte zones. 

Below you will find a brief assessment of the current snowpacks across the Mountain West, according to each region’s avalanche center. From Washington and Oregon to California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, we are here to help disseminate the information provided by real professionals. Moral of the story right now: Across the board, we’re dealing with unusually low snowpacks, which pose their own set of hazards, and a persistent weak layer that’s only going to get spookier and more unpredictable as it gets buried. 

California 

Sierra Avalanche Center

While California is not dealing with a persistent weak layer problem, the state is contending with sunny skies and increasingly warm temperatures. Wet loose avalanches are the biggest hazard in the Sierra range right now, with wind slabs continuing to pose a problem in isolated areas. As the day warms up and you start to notice the snowpack getting heavier and wetter, it’s time to seek out shadier aspects (NW-N-NE). 

Colorado

Colorado Avalanche Center

Colorado is big ‘ole mixed bag when it comes to avalanche ratings. The eastern half of the state, north to south, is experiencing uncharacteristically low avalanche danger simply because the snowpack is just too shallow to pose any real risk for slides. With that said, a low snowpack means there are plenty of other natural hazards like rocks and fallen trees that are absolutely cause for concern should you take an involuntary slide or ride. The avalanche danger increases to moderate and considerable near and above treeline from the I-70 corridor down to Aspen and Crested Butte, with a persistent weak layer being the number one problem. 

Idaho

Sawtooth Avalanche Center

From the northern panhandle to the southeast corner of the state, Idaho is currently rated as moderate for avalanche danger at and above treeline. Much like Colorado, Idaho is dealing with a tricky persistent weak layer that is now getting buried, particularly on shadier NW-N-NE-E aspects at middle and upper elevations where thicker wind slabs have formed over the weak snow surfaces that developed over the month-long drought. Wind slabs become an even bigger problem as you move up in elevation. 

Montana

Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center

Wind slabs are the biggest problem in Montana right now at the uppermost elevations on W-NW-N-NE-E aspects. Without a thick crust between the weak layers from the January dry spell, wind slabs forming on top are of the main concern in Montana today, with the possibility of stepping down to a persistent weak layer at mid and upper elevations of the same aspects listed above. Enough snow has fallen in Cooke City that this setup exists without wind loading, travel with caution on steeper slopes. 

Oregon

Central Oregon Avalanche Center

Central Oregon is a green triangle across all aspects and elevations as of Friday, February 13. Observers have been finding surface hoar on top of the snowpack throughout the region, which doesn’t pose any hazard when it’s on top of the snowpack but as this next storm cycle lands in the Pacific Northwest this weekend, that weak layer is going to get buried and avalanche danger is going to rise. The rating is expected to rise to moderate by Saturday, so today may be a good day to ski a line you’ve been eyeing. 

Utah

Utah Avalanche Center

From Logan down to the Wasatch, Uintas and Skyline forecast zone, Utah is rated as a “tricky” moderate on mid and upper elevations across W-NW-N-NE-E aspects due to wind-drifted snow on a persistent weak layer. Soft slabs eight to 18 inches thick and up to 150 feet wide are possible to trigger right now. Warmer-than-usual temperatures are also playing a role, making the snow heavier and wetter than is typical for February. This weekend looks clear for Utah, with another storm rolling in early next week. 

Washington

Northwest Avalanche Center

The Olympics and the West Slopes North zones are rated as moderate for this Friday, with the rest of the state a lovely shade of green across all aspects and elevations. This is mostly because Washington was largely left out of this recent storm cycle but avalanche danger is expected to rise on Saturday as this next cycle makes landfall. 

Wyoming

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Wyoming is no stranger to persistent weak layers, and this current storm cycle is starting to bury that spooky layer. Across all forecast zones, Wyoming is rated as moderate at mid and upper elevations due to two feet of new snow falling on top of a crust or weak surface hoar, depending on the aspect. Several avalanches were reported yesterday (2/12) in the Teton and Snake River Ranges and with more snow in the forecast, things are only going to get trickier.