Dangerous avalanche conditions could exist at higher elevations.
Carefully assess for wind slabs and the bond between them and underlying crusts.
Recent snow that was accompanied by strong southerly wind has formed wind slabs in exposed terrain. These slabs may remain reactive due to the underlying crust.
Sluffing in steep terrain has been reported over the past couple days, recent storm snow is likely not bonding well to the underlying crust. No slab avalanches have been reported in the region since the atmospheric river event.
If you are heading into the backcountry, please share your observations by posting a MIN.
10 to 25 cm of recent storm snow has been redistributed by southerly wind into deeper deposits on leeward features. On sun exposed slopes a thin crust exists just below this storm snow.
The 10 to 15 cm thick crust that formed as a result of the atmospheric river event is found down 50 to 80 cm. Moist or wet snow is found beneath this crust. We have some uncertainty in how high this crust extends, it may not extend to mountain tops everywhere in the region.
The early February crust is found at depths of 100 to 160 cm. This layer is not currently a concern.
The remainder of the snowpack is generally well settled and bonded.
Check out this MIN for more.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 1 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
