The DJL (Dry January Layer) is now buried 1 to 3 feet beneath the surface and has been responsible for four avalanche fatalities, several accidents, and more than 60 reported avalanches.

Over the past few days, fewer obvious signs of instability are showing up during backcountry travel and in snowpits, suggesting the snowpack is gradually gaining strength. This can create a false sense of security and draw people into avalanche terrain. We are only a few days past the last significant loading event. While the likelihood of triggering an avalanche is slowly decreasing, the consequences remain just as high.

Recent avalanches, both large natural and human-triggered, underscore the high-consequence nature of this layer. Thinner snowpack areas are especially suspect, and avalanches can still be triggered remotely or from below. Continue to pay attention, evaluate snow and terrain carefully, and travel conservatively in the backcountry.

A large, natural avalanche on a northeast-facing slope at ~10,100 feet failing on PWL on Wednesday. (Photo: Solitude Snow Safety)

Strong west winds, combined with dense snow from Wednesday, are creating thick, stiff slabs and large cornices along upper-elevation ridges. These slabs may be difficult to trigger, but could break above you and carry into lower-angle slopes. Look for signs of wind-drifted snow like round, pillow-shaped drifts.

Any avalanche initially triggered in the wind-drifted snow has the potential to step down, producing a much deeper and wider avalanche that fails on the persistent weak layer.

Previous rain on snow and warm temperatures have created a saturated, unsupportable snowpack at mid and low elevations.

As daytime temperatures rise and the surface crust softens, wet snow avalanches may be triggered. Low- and mid-elevation north-facing aspects where persistent weak layers exist are the most concerning and should be avoided during the warmest part of the day.