Rising temperatures will keep the danger elevated.
There is uncertainty around how the continued warmth will affect the snowpack.
Extreme wind has redistributed recent storm snow, forming deep deposits in lee and cross-loaded terrain features at all elevations. Treat the snowpack as suspect anywhere the snow surface isn't scoured.
A weak layer of facets may be found 70 to 100 cm deep. In shallower inland areas, weak depth hoar exists to ground.
Warm temperatures in the alpine may increase the sensitivity of this layer.
January 16 & 17
No new avalanches report but observations are limited. Consider posting to the MIN if you are out in the mountains!
January 15
Large natural avalanches (size 3) where reported and may have been a day old.
A small (size 1) persistent slab was remotely triggered near log cabin.
January 14
A large (up to size 3.5) natural avalanche cycle occurred during periods of rapid loading and warming. Breaking mature timber and going through lake ice at Bryant lake.
30 to 40 cm of snow has accumulated over the past week and has been redistributed by extreme southerly wind. The wind scoured south facing slopes and loaded north facing slopes.
At lower elevations a crust is present on or under the recent snow.
A weak layer of facets is buried 70 to 100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas, the bottom half of the snowpack is composed of weak depth hoar.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 800 m with an above freezing layer between 1500 m and 2600 m.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 900 m with an above freezing layer between 1500 m and 3000 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. An above freezing layer between 1500 m and 2400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
