Terrain that is sheltered from the wind will hold soft, loose snow with no slab properties. That's where you'll find the best riding and the lowest avalanche danger.
Avalanches are most likely where the wind has formed the recent snow into wind slabs on leeward slopes in cross-loaded terrain. Watch for fresh slabs as the wind shifts from the northwest.
On Friday, east of Pine Pass, natural and human triggered avalanches up to size 2 were reported in wind exposed treeline and alpine terrain. See photo below for more info and a link to the MIN report.
If you are out in the backcountry consider submitting your observations to the MIN.
In sheltered terrain, expect to find 20 to 40 cm of settling snow. Southwesterly wind has exposed the ground on windward slopes and formed wind slabs on lee slopes and in cross-loaded terrain.
In sheltered areas, a crust from early December is buried up to 80 cm. Snowpack tests and a lack of recent avalanches suggest that this layer is trending unreactive, however, observations are limited in this region. The lower snowpack is settled and strong.
Data is very limited in this region, please submit MIN reports if you head into the mountains. Any information or photos are helpful!
Sunday night
Cloudy. Light variable wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with up to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with up to 2 cm of snow. 5 to 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with light flurries. 15 to 25 km/h eastt ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
