Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Wind speed and direction is uncertain on Tuesday

Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud / Moderate north winds / Alpine temperature at -25Wednesday: Clear skies / Moderate north winds / Alpine temperature at -18Thursday: Mix of sun and cloud / Strong northwest winds / Alpine temperature at -14

A wind slabs to size 1.5 were noted on Sunday in high elevation terrain. I'd expect a new round of wind slab activity in response to new snow and wind on Sunday night and Monday. Northerly winds on Tuesday may promote a reverse loading pattern increasing the likelihood of wind slab activity on all aspects.

Up to 20 cm of low density snow fell on Sunday night and Monday. Moderate to strong southwest winds are expected to have shifted these fresh accumulations into wind slabs at treeline and above. These accumulations have covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events. A layer of faceted "sugar snow" and spotty surface hoar which formed during December's cold snap now lies roughly 1 metre below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but remains a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region. I'd continue to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be well bonded, but features a crust/facet deep persistent weakness near the ground which remains a concern on rocky features in shallow snowpack areas.