Northerly winds are redistributing low-density snow into wind slabs. Watch for signs of instability; shooting cracks, hollow sounds and recent avalanches as you move through the terrain.
Varibale northerly winds are redistributing available snow into wind slabs in lee terrain features at higher elevations. With an atypical loading pattern watch for wind slabs in areas where you typically don't often see them.
No new avalanches were reported this weekend perhaps in part due to cold temperatures keeping operators and many users out of the backcountry.
On Friday, natural wind slab and storm slab avalanches were observed up to size 2.5.
If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Northerly winds at all elevations have redistributed roughly 30 to 60 cm of low-density snow. This new snow has buried various old surfaces, including surface hoar in sheltered alpine terrain and sun-crusts on steep south-facing terrain.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well bonded with a series of crusts and facetted snow.
The average snow depth at treeline is approximately 70 to 150 cm.
Sunday Night
Clear skies with no precipitation, northwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -25 °C.
Monday
Sunny with no precipitation, northwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -20 °C.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, west alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -16 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with scattered flurries, 7 to 10 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -14 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
