Clearwater

Watch for newly formed, reactive wind slabs at upper elevations.

Conditions remain fairly rugged, with firm surfaces and shallow snow coverage.

No recent avalanches have been reported, but we suspect rider-triggered wind slabs may be possible in the alpine and at treeline on wind-loaded slopes.

Please consider posting a MIN if you are heading out in the backcountry!

Surface snow at treeline and above is variable, with soft snow in sheltered areas and pockets of firm, wind-affected snow in more exposed areas. A supportive melt-freeze crust from mid-November is buried 15–20 cm down and is present up to about 2200 m.

Snow depths at treeline range from roughly 20 to 60 cm.

Below treeline, the snowpack thins significantly—many areas have only a shallow, crusty base or little snow at all.

Be mindful of variable snow conditions and overall snow quality, and watch for classic early-season hazards such as open creeks, rocks, and stumps.

Thursday Night

Clearing skies. 1 to 4 cm of snow at treeline. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 800 m.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level 600 m.

Saturday

Mostly sunny. 1 cm of snow at treeline. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level 0 m.

Sunday

Mostly sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 0 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Shooting cracks, whumpfs, and recent avalanches are strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.
• Be cautious of buried obstacles, especially below treeline.