Where a supportive crust exists, avalanches are unlikely.
Investigate alpine terrain for heightened avalanche hazard due to buried weak layers.
Strong winds have redistributed any available loose snow. Check for stubborn windslabs in lee features or steep, exposed terrain.
Cornices are large and looming, give them space.
Facets and/or surface hoar buried 40 to 80 cm deep are most prominent on north-facing slopes in the alpine. Avoid areas with a thin or variable (thin to thick) snowpack.
Where a thick, supportive surface crust is found, we expect that triggering avalanches on buried weak layers is unlikely.
Size 2 to 3 persistent slab avalanches were last reported on Monday. There have been limited other reports through the week.
Wind has modified surfaces and formed slabs in lee features. A crust is found up to 1500 m on all aspects and higher on solar slopes.
A layer of surface hoar is now buried 30 to 60 cm deep, it persists at alpine elevations and on 'polar aspects' (slopes protected from the sun).
Another layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust buried in mid-February is 60 to 100 cm below the snow surface and has been reactive in snowpack tests.
Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December can be found. This layer appears to be dormant but is still worth keeping in mind in thin snowpack areas in the alpine.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear. 10 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Sunday
Partly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with snow showers, light accumulations. 25 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
