Early season hazards might currently outnumber snow grains in the mountains! Even with minimal avalanche problems, these are dangerous conditions for snow sliding sports.
Wind-drifted snow in steep alpine gullies or on smooth rock slab could produce a small avalanche with a human trigger. Thin snow coverage right now means high stakes for any fall or slide.
No avalanches have been reported in the region yet this season. This will change when more snow arrives.
Snow depths throughout the region range from about 30 to 60 cm, increasing with elevation. Some wind loaded pockets may hold up to 90 cm.
No significant layers have been identified in this minimal snowpack, which is for the most part still below threshold depths for producing avalanches. Steep, isolated patches of wind-drifted snow could have the potential to produce small avalanches in alpine gullies and on smooth surfaces like rock slab.
Snow coverage starts at about 1200 metres and travel conditions remain generally rugged with ground roughness still too prominent to allow for straightforward travel on snow in most areas.
Friday Night
Clear skies. Alpine wind north 10-40 km/h, strongest in the north of the region.
Saturday
Clear skies. Alpine wind north 10-20 km/h. Treeline high temperature -4°C with potential for above freezing temperatures in the alpine from a building temperature inversion.
Sunday
Clear skies. Alpine wind west 10-15 km/h. Treeline high temperature -4°C with an above freezing layer above 2000 m.
Monday
Clear skies. Alpine wind west 10-15 km/h. Treeline high temperature -4°C with an above freezing layer above 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
