Watch for wind slabs on all aspects in exposed terrain. Older wind slabs resulting from southwest wind over the weekend may still be reactive. A switch to northeast wind on Monday is expected to be causing reverse loading and small new wind slabs may be developing.
Lingering old wind slabs from the weekend may still be reactive in isolated areas on north and east aspects.
Recent and ongoing northeast wind is expected to be forming small new wind slabs in exposed terrain features on south and west aspects.
Wind slabs likely sit over a firm melt-freeze crust which may increase their reactivity.
Monday night: Partly cloudy with a chance of flurries, moderate northeast wind, treeline low around -12 °C.
Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with with a chance of flurries and sunny breaks, light to moderate northeast wind, treeline high around -8 °C.
Wednesday: Mainly cloudy with with a chance of flurries and sunny breaks, light to moderate east wind, treeline high around -7 °C.
Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud, light variable wind, treeline high around -6 °C.
On Sunday, a natural size 1.5 cornice release was reported on an east aspect.
Observations are very limited this time of year. If you are getting out in the backcountry, please consider contributing to the Mountain Information Network.
10-30 cm of recent snowfall has buried a widespread melt-freeze crust which formed during the major warming event at the end of last week. Periods of strong southwest wind over the weekend has formed wind slabs which may still be reactive in isolated areas. Moderate to strong northeast wind on Monday and Tuesday is expected to be redistributing any remaining unconsolidated snow in exposed high elevation terrain forming small new wind slabs on the opposite aspects.
A thick rain crust with facets above from early December is buried around 100-200 cm deep. Large avalanches were naturally triggered on this layer during the last significant warming event in the western part of the region near the Bugaboos. With the current cold temperatures, avalanche activity on this layer is unlikely. However, we expect it will wake up again with the next major input of warming and sun, or rainfall.
