Watch for wind slabs in wind-exposed areas on all aspects at higher elevations.
Manage uncertainty surrounding weak layers with conservative terrain selection and good travel habits.
Moderate winds varying in direction have affected all aspects. Use caution as you transition into wind-affected terrain, especially around ridge crest and wind-loaded features.
A widespread weakness from late December is found down 50 -100 cm. In some areas preserved surface hoar crystals sit on a crust; in some areas it's just a soft and weak layer in the mid snowpack.
This weak layer has been most reactive in the central and northern parts of the region, particularly around Hurley and Birkenhead.
Although avalanche activity has subsided, reported avalanche activity since Jan 13 indicates the potential of the deeper weak layers buried in the snowpack. The Hurley has been the bulls-eye for avalanche activity on persistent weak layers in the middle and bottom of the snowpack.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
The region's generally weak snowpack structure remains.
10-20 cm of storm snow sits over wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations and a crust at lower elevations.
A weak layer that formed in late December can be found 50-100 cm deep. In the Hurley and Birkenhead areas it may present as surface hoar sitting on a crust and can be found between 1700 and 1900m in elevation. The crust varies in thickness with terrain and elevation; in many places it's more of a soft and weak section of the snowpack.
There is a widespread weak layer of facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack. Snowpack depths around treeline are highly variable and range between 150 - 230 cm.
Monday Night
Cloudy skies. Westerly ridgetop winds of 20 km/h. Overnight temperature low -7C. Freezing level of 500 m.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Westerly ridge top winds 20 km/h gusting 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high of -2C. Freezing levels rise to 1000 m during the day.
Wednesday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Light westerly winds occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high of +2C. An above freezing layer is present between 1500-2800m.
Thursday
Cloudy with sunny periods. Light westerly winds occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high of +1C. An above freezing layer is present between 1500-2800m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
