Wind slabs remain possible to human-trigger.
Actively look for signs of instability and identify wind slabs, listen for drum like sounds and hollow sounding snow.
Strong to extreme winds have heavily impacted the alpine and open treeline terrain. 10 to 15 cm of new snow that incrementally accumulated over the weekend has been redistributed likely developing new wind slabs in lee terrain.
Cornices are large and overhanging from recent warmer temperatures combined with wind driven new snow. Reduce exposure to terrain where cornices are lurking overhead. Even short periods of sun could be a trigger for this hazard.
On Sunday, a large naturally triggered size 2 avalanche was reported in the Halcyon area.
Going forward, wind slabs remain possible to human trigger.
Heavily wind affected surfaces in all open terrain features, and soft settling snow in sheltered terrain. Outflow winds forecast for Tuesday may build wind slabs at lower elevations. This MIN describes the surface conditions.
A mid-February crust or facet layer sits 50 to 70 cm deep, and is more prominent on north aspects in White pass and can found on all aspects in the Haines pass. The late January crust is buried 50 to 100 cm deep below 1350 m, with surface hoar above on sheltered north to east aspects.
Facets or depth hoar exist at the base of the snowpack and may be a concern in the inland side of the region, where the snowpack is generally shallower.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -19 °C.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -21 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
