North Rockies

Use caution as you transfer into wind-affected terrain.

Human-triggered avalanches are possible.

• Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind-exposed terrain.
• Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
• Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.

A few small to large (size 1 to 2) wind slab avalanches out of steep alpine terrain were reported since Tuesday.

Expect the chances of an avalanche to increase on sun-exposed slopes.

30 to 60 cm overlies a hard melt-freeze crust and isolated surface hoar crystals in wind-sheltered treeline terrain.

Variable winds have created windslabs on all aspects near or just below ridge crests in the alpine and treeline elevations.

A weak layer of surface hoar and/or faceted grains buried mid-February is around 50 to 100 cm deep, but is showing signs of strengthening.

The lower snowpack is well-settled.

Monday night

Cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Thursday

Cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.