North Rockies

Match terrain to conditions. Avalanches are most likely to be triggered on steep slopes at upper elevations.

No recent avalanches have been reported in the region, however there are currently very few field observations.

If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

New snow with southerly winds will likely continue to form small wind slabs on lee features at upper elevations. A crust exists on or near the surface on all aspects treeline and below and on steep south aspects in the alpine.

Two layers of surface hoar can be found in the top meter of the snowpack at treeline. These layers are on our mind but are becoming less concerning.

The current snowpack has considerable variation in structure and depths across the region and is shallow for this time of year..

Thursday Night

A mix of cloud and clear skies with up to 5 cm of new snow expected, southwest alpine wind 20 to 45 km/h, treeline temperature -5°C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected, southwest alpine wind 20 to 45 km/h, treeline temperature -4°C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow expected, west alpine wind 15 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -8°C.

Sunday

A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow expected, south alpine wind 15 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -10°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.
• Start with conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.
• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.