Stay vigilant of changing conditions, especially when the March sun comes out.
Carefully manage your exposure to overhead hazards during periods of sun.
Recent snow and wind have created fresh wind slabs. Use caution as you transfer into wind-affected terrain, as these slabs can still be triggered by riders.
Small wet loose avalanches will be likely on steep sun-exposed slopes. Avoid overhead hazard from steep sunny faces during the warmest parts of the day.
Small storm slabs (size 1) were reactive to riders on alpine convex slopes near Cokely on Sunday.
Observations of small natural avalanches (dry and wet loose, wind and storm slabs) from this stormy weekend are still being reported throughout the region.
Thanks for sharing your observations via the MIN if you are going out into the backcountry.
The region received 15 to 20 cm of new snow this past weekend, accompanied by moderate to strong southerly wind. Variable conditions exist at upper elevations and reactive slabs are found at upper elevations. Southerly slopes were affected by the sun, resulting in heavy wet snow sitting on a thin crust.
A robust crust, formed in early March, can be found down 50 to 100 cm. The snow above is well bonded to this crust. Below this, the snowpack is well consolidated and strong.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 500 m.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 10 to 25 cm of new snow. 60 to 80 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4°C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
