Warmer temperatures will take a while before having any effect on the recently faceted snowpack. Ice climbers, watch for dry loose avalanches as even a small slide could have serious consequences.
Recent windslab activity has been noted in high elevation windloaded features. It seems to require a large trigger such as cornice failures to initiate or potentially a shallow location where a skiers weight may be enough.
Surface snow continues to lose cohesion and structure making specific areas susceptible to light triggers like direct solar influence, and excitable riders. Sluff awareness and management will be very important in steep and/or confined lines.
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: High -12 °C. Light ridge wind. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Tuesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: Low -16 °C, High -13 °C. Ridge wind light to 15 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
The cold weather continues to promote facetting of the upper 40cm. The mid-pack is showing signs of losing strength with the prolonged arctic influence, especially where it is shallow. Widespread wind effect in the alpine and upper tree line.
Road patrol on Feb 13 observed numerous Natural Loose Dry Avalanches up to size 1.5, starting steep terrain, but running the distance in terrain over 30 deg. One size 2 serac triggered wind slab, up to a meter deep, was also directly observed that day. No patrol on Sunday
