Carefully evaluate both the terrain and the snowpack. Avoid slopes directly below ridgetops, where deep, freshly formed wind-loaded snow pillows are present.
Wind slabs are likely to have formed at higher elevations near ridge top where new snow has been loaded into leeward terrain features.
Buried surface hoar in sheltered terrain is expected to be reactive to human triggers.
There are no recent avalanche reports for this region.
If you are going out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
The weekend storm snow has likely buried existing surface hoar that was previously found in wind-sheltered, and sun-sheltered open terrain. A thin melt-freeze crust may exist on south-facing slopes. Expect to find new winds slab development as the weekend southerly winds have transported new snow onto north aspect terrain.
Above 1800 m on non-solar slopes, you can find 20 to 40 cm of snow above a thin crust. The crust disappears as you travel higher into the alpine.
Below 1800 m, 15 to 25 cm of snow sits overtop a thicker and more robust crust.
Snow depths at treeline are around 80-90 cm.
Sunday Night
Snow 1 to 5 cm. 10 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 500 m.
Monday
Snow 1 to 5 cm. 10 to 15 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Tuesday
Snow flurries 1 to 2 cm. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
Wednesday
Snow with some rain 5 to 10 mm. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
