Use caution in wind effected terrain, wind slab over facets, surface hoar or a crust remains the primary concern.
Warming temps and solar input could increase the likelihood of avalanches.
Outflow wind has impacted open terrain on various aspects. This has formed wind slabs that are bonding poorly to underlying surface hoar and facets on the early February crust.
Over the past week we have seen a pattern of human and remotely triggered size 1 to 1.5 wind slab avalanches with a few being up to size 2. Natural avalanches have been triggered on leeward slopes by wind transport but human-triggered avalanches have occurred on a range of aspects. Slabs have been averaging 20 - 30 cm thick, with some failing on buried surface hoar.
Sun and wind have created variable surface conditions. All exposed terrain is highly wind effected. The snow surface will likely become moist throughout the day.
Roughly 30 cm of snow sits above large surface hoar and/or faceted crystals at treeline and above. This is most problematic in places where wind slabs have formed over it. A widespread, supportive crust exists 30 to 40 cm below the surface. It is an excellent bed surface for slabs run on.
The snowpack is well bonded and strong below this crust.
Sunday Night
A mix of cloud and clear skies with trace amounts of new snow possible. 5 to 10 km/h southeast alpine wind. Treeline temperature around -5°C.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 10 km/h southeast alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 km/h southwest alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow possible. 5 to 15 km/h west alpine wind. Freezing level around 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
