Observations from the high alpine (above 2300m) have been very limited. Dig down and test for weak layers before committing to steeper, exposed lines.
Summary
Confidence
Fair - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Expect a mix of of sun and cloud for the forecast period. Winds are forecast to remain light to moderate from the northwest, switching to southwest on Thursday and Friday. Freezing levels should hover at 1200m on Wednesday, rise to 1800m on Thursday, and fall back to 1200m on Friday.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 50 cm of settled storm snow has been saturated by rain up to about 2100m. With the forecast cooling trend, most surfaces will likely be sporting a hard melt-freeze crust. At the highest elevations you might find dense, stubborn wind slabs in lee terrain. New cornice development has also been noted. The older storm snow overlies a hard crust and/or surface hoar layer which formed in early January. The bond at this interface will be largely elevation dependant as rain may have penetrated the snowpack enough to dissolve the crust in many areas. At higher elevations where snow has fallen, this interface may still be reactive although no recent avalanches have been reported at this interface.Deeper snowpack weaknesses seem to have become unreactive, and should become even less of a concern if the forecast cooling trend verifies.
jlammers,
Avalanche Canada
