6:15 AM UPDATE: Heavy snowfall and wind overnight have created very dangerous avalanche conditions.
Choose simple terrain well away from avalanche paths.
Stormy conditions on Monday night will build fresh storm slabs, with deeper, more reactive deposits in wind-loaded terrain.
On Monday, several natural size 1 to 2 storm slabs were observed at treeline and below. One size 1 natural wind slab was observed on Zoa peak from below a south-facing alpine cliffband.
Looking forward to Tuesday, reactive storm slabs will be primed for human-triggering from snowfall and wind overnight on Monday.
Stormy conditions continue to build a previously thin snowpack. Up to 30 cm of new snow on Monday night will be accompanied by strong southerly winds, creating a variety of surfaces - wind slabs and loaded pockets in lee features, scoured rock in open terrain, and storm slabs and softer snow in sheltered areas.
This brings the past week's storm totals to over 150 cm of new snow! Below this recent snowfall, a melt-freeze crust could exist to near mountaintop. The depth of this crust is highly variable due to extensive recent wind transport.
Snow depths at the treeline are estimated to range from 200 to 250 cm.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. 20 to 25 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 4 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
