Strong winds have built wind slabs in open areas at all elevations. Watch for signs of instability; shooting cracks, hollow sounds and recent avalanches as you move through the terrain.
Variable winds are redistributing available snow into wind slabs in lee terrain features at all elevations. With an atypical loading pattern watch for wind slabs in areas where you typically don't often see them.
On Sunday, two natural, size 2, wind slab avalanches were reported on northwest alpine features.
Observations in the area remain limited as cold temperatures continue to keep some operators and many users out of the backcountry.
If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Variable winds at all elevations have redistributed 30 to 70 cm of low-density snow into wind slabs in open areas. A melt freeze crust is found down 70 to 100 cm.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well bonded with a series of crusts and facetted snow.
The average snow depth at treeline is approximately 100 to 180 cm.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy with no precipitation, northwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, temperature inversion present with treeline temperature around -20 °C and valley bottom temperatures around -30 °C.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries in the evening, trace amounts of snow, westerly alpine wind 25 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -16 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with scattered flurries, 8 to 15 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -18 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with no new precipitation, north alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -20 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
