Assess your line for wind slab and avoid likely trigger spots like convexities and shallow rocky terrain. Small avalanches could step down to deeper layers.
Wind this week has generally been southerly but there was also a period of strong northerly wind in the region Thursday night. Watch for wind slab on all aspects.
Be aware that wind slab avalanches could step down to deeper layers.
A layer of surface hoar has been reported down 80 to 100 cm. This layer is likely only a concern in sheltered north facing terrain.
The lower snowpack is made up of facets and depth hoar. This layer is likely to be a concern for a prolonged period of time. It is most likely to be triggered in steep, shallow and rocky terrain features or by first triggering a avalanche higher up in the snowpack.
No new avalanches reported in the last few days in the region.
Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.
Ongoing southerly winds have scoured south facing terrain in the alpine and formed wind slab in specific north facing features, However a period of strong northerly wind Thursday night may have reverse loaded some south slopes. A new layer of surface hoar exists under 10cm of recent storm snow.
30 to 50cm sits over a crust formed near the end of December. This crust varies in thickness throughout the terrain. In the mid-snowpack, a layer of surface hoar from early December has been observed down 80 to 100 cm on sheltered north facing terrain.
There is a layer of facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack that is still a concern. The snow pack below treeline is very shallow and faceted. around treeline snowpack depths are much deeper, around 175cm deep.
Friday Night
Cloudy with flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Strong southerly winds and freezing level around 1100m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Strong south winds easing to light by the afternoon and freezing level rising to 1300m.
Sunday
Cloudy with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Southerly winds increasing to strong by the end of the day. High of -2 at 1500m.
Monday
Cloudy with around 5cm of new snow expected. Moderate southeast winds and a high of -2 at 1500m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
