Although natural avalanche activity is tapering off new snow remains reactive to human triggering due to a buried weak layer.
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30 to 55 cm of new snow and southwest winds have formed slabs in lee terrain features. New snow is bonding poorly to surfaces below. Back off if you signs of instability: whumphing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches.
On Sunday, natural and explosive-triggered storm slab avalanches were reported to size 2. Several human-triggered storm slab avalanches were reported to size 1.5.
On Saturday, a suspected skier remote triggered, storm slab avalanche was observed in the Whitewater area, size 2.5. This occurred on a north facing treeline slope. The crown was 30 to 70 cm deep and ran on a buried layer of surface hoar.
Numerous reports from backcountry users report cracking and whumphing.
Storm snow totals range from 30 to 55 cm. Deeper deposits are found in wind-loaded areas. The new snow is bonding poorly to old surfaces, which include melt-freeze crusts on sun-exposed slopes, surface hoar or facets on shaded slopes, and wind-affected snow in exposed terrain.
A weak layer of surface hoar buried, 30 to 80cm deep, has been the culprit of many natural and human-triggered avalanches through the weekend. Where this layer is preserved it will remain reactive to human triggering.
The lower snowpack is strong and bonded.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy with light flurries, 0 to 2 cm of snow. 15 to 25 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy with a chance of flurries, 1 to 2 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud with light flurries, 1 cm of snow. 15 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Thursday
Clear. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
