Monitor surface snow and watch for changing conditions as you transition through aspect and elevations.
Wet avalanches are possible on south facing terrain features affected by strong sunshine & wind slabs may be reactive at higher elevations.
Isolated pockets of wind loading may be found at higher elevations. Wind slabs are expected to remain reactive where they sit over a crust.
Watch for wet surface snow on south facing slopes as the sun affects recent storm snow for the first time.
Warming will be most significant on steep slopes, and around rock features.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with flurries of up to 5 cm in localized areas. Freezing levels below 500 m. Light northerly winds.
SUNDAY: Clear skies in the morning with increasing cloud. Freezing levels rise to around 900 m. Light northeast winds.
MONDAY: Mostly clear skies with light and variable winds. No precipitation expected. Freezing levels reach 1000 m.
TUESDAY: Mostly clear skies with light to moderate easterly winds. Freezing levels reach 800 m. Flurries possible, up to 3 cm.
No new avalanches were reported in the last 3 days. We would expect small natural and human triggered avalanches out of wind loaded features at higher elevations.
Observations are very limited this time of year. If you are getting out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
10-20 cm of new snow can be found at high elevations, sitting over a melt freeze crust or moist snow. Strong southwest winds have likely redistributed this storm snow into pockets of wind loading on north and east facing slopes. A widespread and supportive melt freeze crust is buried 60-110 cm deep, below recent settling storm snow. Recent tests suggest that this crust is bonding well to the snow above it.
A thick and widespread crust sits on the surface to around 1400 m. Periods of sun may soften the crust on south facing slopes over the day. Now is no time to think of what you do not have, think of what you can do with what there is. Head to wind sheltered features at higher elevations to escape the crust and possibly find good skiing. The middle and lower snowpack are generally strong and well bonded.
