730sm update: If you see more than 20 cm of new snow, treat avalanche danger as one step higher. Storm slabs are reactive to riders, select terrain carefully and watch for signs of instability.
Recent snow is not expected to bond well to underlying layers. Storm slabs likely remain triggerable by riders. The most likely places to trigger an avalanche are in wind-loaded lee terrain features just below ridgetops and convex rolls.
A skier was involved in an avalanche on a west aspect in the Mount Cain area on Sunday. This serves as a good reminder that our avalanche problems from the weekend are remaining sensitive to human triggers.
Over the weekend, natural and skier controlled storm slabs up to size 1.5 were reported on west to northeast aspects near treeline.
New snow fall on a recent 20 to 50 cm from over the weekend. Near ridgetops, recent moderate to strong southwest wind has likely loaded the recent snow into leeward terrain features.
This recent snow is not expected to bond well to underlying surfaces including a hard crust in most areas, or facets and/or surface hoar on high north aspects.
The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and dense with no other layers of concern.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy with 5 cm new snow overnight, up to 15 cm around the south island. 30 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud, possible trace of new snow. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Thursday
Mainly sunny. Light east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
