New snow is creating heightened avalanche conditions on high elevation slopes.
Light accumulations of snow and strong southwest wind have potentially formed wind slabs in steep alpine terrain. There is uncertainty about how well these slabs will bond to underlying interfaces.
Unsettled conditions with light flurries for the next few days.
MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with light flurries and up to 5 cm of new snow, light southwest wind, freezing level drops to valley bottom, alpine temperatures drop to -10 C.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloud with isolated flurries, light wind, freezing level around 1000 m, alpine temperatures reach -4 C.
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light north wind, freezing level around 1000 m, alpine temperatures reach -4 C.
THURSDAY: Increasing cloud with light flurries in the evening, moderate southwest wind, freezing level around 800 m, alpine temperatures reach -6 C.
No recent avalanches have been reported, but mountain travel and field observations have been very limited over the past few days. Last week there were many wet loose avalanches, but cooler weather and a dusting of new snow has probably made isolated wind slabs the main concern this week.
5-15 cm of new snow now covers moist and crusty layers that formed over the past week. There is some uncertainty about how well the new snow will bond to these interfaces. A few high elevation, shaded slopes may still hold dry, previously wind-affected snow. The snowpack is generally strong and settled, with the exception of some areas in the eastern and northern parts of the region that have weak faceted snow near the base of the snowpack. However, this layer is considered dormant and has not produced an avalanche since February 20.
