Avalanche Forecast

Observations since Saturday's storm are limited, however ski cutting in the North Shore did yield small wet loose avalanches. No slab activity has been reported.

10 - 20 cm of heavy new snow and high winds Sunday night should make for a reactive wind slab problem needing to be managed on Monday.

By Monday morning, 10 - 20 cm of new snow (increasing with elevation) should accumulate on a crust forming on rain-soaked surfaces at most elevations. It may add to a thin cover of dense new snow in the alpine.

A late-January weak layer (hard crust, facets, or surface hoar) is buried 80 to 120 cm deep, this layer should be entombed beneath a firm crust in most areas, with some uncertainty around the highest elevations of the region.

The lower snowpack is strong and bonded.

Sunday Night

Cloudy with wet flurries bringing 10 - 20 cm of new snow, increasing with elevation, rain below about 1200 m. 30 - 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1500 m.

Monday

Clearing over the day, clouding over in late afternoon. 20 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind, increasing. Freezing level rising from 1200 m to 1600 m.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy with 10 - 20 cm of heavy new snow from overnight, increasing with elevation. 10 - 20 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1200 - 1400 m.

Wednesday

Becoming sunny. 20 - 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level shooting to 2500+ m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
• Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
• Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.