Expect many early season hazards.
A small avalanche could have large consequences in this shallow snowpack.
The Winter Permit System is in effect! Take the quiz, get your permit, and know what areas are open before you head out.
Southerly winds may have formed isolated pockets of wind slab. Watch for these deposits of dense snow on the lee sides of ridges and in exposed terrain.
A weak layer is present at the bottom at the snowpack. It is more likely to be triggered in shallow, rocky areas, such as ridge-crests and open, convex slopes. This problem will be harder to trigger in deeper snowpack areas.
We observed one new natural avalanche sz 2, along the highway corridor today, from the steep terrain off Mt MacDonald.
On Monday, a field team observed a sz 2, failing on the ground, near Christiana Ridge from a very steep SE aspect, likely from Sunday.
The height of snow at treeline is approx. 90cm, which is 40cm below average. 5-10cm of new snow buried a thin crust on steep solar aspects and spotty surface hoar.
The base of the snowpack consists of weak, sugary facets and may collapse in shallow, rocky zones, producing large "whumpfs". Snow depth is highly variable; expect many rocks/trees lurking at and just below the snow surface.
An extended period of dry conditions is forecasted.
Tonight: Clearing, Trace snow, Light N winds, Alp low -5*C
Thurs: Mix of sun/cloud, light NE winds, Alp high -7*C
Fri: Mix of sun/cloud, light NW winds, Alp high -2*C
Detailed weather forecasts can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
