We are working with limited observations for the region. Conservative travel and being on high-alert is important to manage the early-season uncertainty. If you see anything of interest, please consider sharing it to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
The most likely terrain to trigger an avalanche is in the alpine near ridges where the snow surface appears smooth. In these locations, wind-transported snow that overlies a melt-freeze crust has the potential of sliding.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy skies, light to moderate west wind, alpine temperature -1 C, freezing level 1000 m.
SATURDAY: Increasing clouds with afternoon snowfall, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, moderate to strong west wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1300 m.
SUNDAY: Morning snowfall and afternoon clearing, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, moderate to strong west wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1300 m.
MONDAY: Partly cloudy skies, light west wind, alpine temperature -8 C, freezing level below valley bottom.
Observations are limited right now, with recreationists starting to get into the mountains and operations opening soon. We haven't received any reports of recent avalanche activity. The most likely place to trigger an avalanche would be where the snow surface appears smooth, particularly in the alpine near ridges.
If you see anything while out in the field, please consider sharing that information with us and fellow recreationists via the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
There is a wide variation in snowpack depth with location and terrain feature. In general, about 50 to 100 cm of snow may be found in terrain depressions in the alpine whereas very little snow may be found on exposed terrain features. There is little or no snow below treeline.
Recent storm snow may have been moved around with strong wind in the alpine. This snow may not bond well to a melt-freeze crust beneath it. The middle of the snowpack has been reported to be relatively strong in deeper snowpack areas and weak and faceted in shallow snowpack areas.
