North Rockies

All of this new snow has been transported by variable winds and formed wind slabs on all aspects.

Gather info in simple terrain, free from overhead hazard, before increasing your exposure.

Stormy conditions have limited avalanche observations, but we suspect that natural avalanches were releasing during periods of heavy snow loading last week. Natural avalanche activity has slowed after the storm with the temperature dropping. Riders may still trigger avalanches.

Up to 80 cm of light, dry snow has fallen over the past week. In the middle of the snowpack is a layer of surface hoar and/or faceted grains. The layer of facets may have a hard melt-freeze crust underneath. In thin snowpack areas, faceted grains may extend to the ground. Recent variable moderate winds has redistributed this new snow, forming wind slabs on all aspects.

Average snow depths at treeline range from 100 to 170 cm and decrease rapidly at lower elevations.

Friday Night
Mostly clear skies. 1 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

Saturday
Cloudy. 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 20 to 25 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 30 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid slopes that sound hollow or drum-like.
• Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
• Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.