Minimize exposure to avalanche terrain; natural avalanches may occur and rider-triggered avalanches are likely.
Warm temperatures, wind, snow or rain will stress the snowpack.
Strong winds are expected to build deep and reactive wind slabs near ridgelines and terrain rollovers. Mild temperatures will help the cohesion of these slabs, and could increase reactivity.
Wet snow and rain exists at all elevations and could extend reactivity. Steer clear of exposure to steep slopes and rollovers.
Natural wind slab avalanches were reported in a MIN on Monday.
We expect natural activity has occurred with rapid wind loading and warm temperatures - these slabs will likely remain sensitive to human triggers.
Early season observations are limited. If you head into the backcountry, please post to the Mountain Information Network.
Surface conditions likely vary from heavily wind affected snow at higher elevations to settling storm snow in sheltered areas. Storm totals from the week reached 60-150 cm across the region. Warm temperatures have likely begun to affect the surface snow, potentially creating an overnight crust or moist snow during the day.
A crust from early November may be found in the mid to lower snowpack, with surface hoar and/or facets. The distribution and reactivity of this layer are not well understood. It is uncertain whether avalanches are failing on this layer.
Below the snowpack consists of melt freeze crusts, facets, and depth hoar in some areas. At treeline, snowpack depth ranges from 60 to 200 cm.
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with 10 to 15 mm of precipitation falling as rain at lower elevations and wet snow at higher elevations. 30-60 km/hr southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures remain around 0 °C with an above-freezing layer.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 mm falling mostly as rain to the mountain top. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures may reach +3 °C. Freezing levels 2000 to 2500 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow at upper elevations, and wet snow or rain and low elevations. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures may reach +2 °C. Freezing levels 2000 to 2500 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures remain around 0 °C. Freezing levels near 1500m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
