Although avalanche activity on buried weak layers has subsided, the snowpack is still weaker and thinner than usual. This is best managed by choosing conservative terrain.
Expect fresh wind slabs to build as the wind direction switches. Take care around ridge crests and wind loaded features. Older wind slabs below the fresh snow may still be reactive to human triggers as well.
A widespread weakness from late December is found down 50 -70 cm. In some areas preserved surface hoar crystals sit on a crust; in some areas it's just a soft and weak layer in the mid snowpack.
This weak layer has been most reactive in the central and northern parts of the region, particularly around Hurley and Birkenhead.
Sunday Night
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Light to moderate west and northwest wind. Alpine high of -7 °C. Freezing level around 700 m.
Monday
Mostly clear with light to moderate northwest winds. Freezing levels around 500 m, alpine high of -5 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly clear with light to moderate northwest winds. Freezing levels around 500 m, alpine high of -5 °C.
Wednesday
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
The region's generally weak snowpack structure remains.
Up to 10 cm of storm snow is can be found over wind affected surfaces at higher elevations, and over a crust at lower elevations.
A weak layer that formed in late December can be found 50-70 cm deep. In the Hurley and Birkenhead areas it may present as surface hoar sitting on a crust and can be found between 1700 and 1900m in elevation. The crust varies in thickness with terrain and elevation; in many places it's more of a soft and weak section of the snowpack.
There is a widespread weak layer of facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack. Snowpack depths around treeline are about 150 cm deep.
Although avalanche activity has subsided, reported avalanche activity over the previous 2 weeks indicates the potential of the deeper weak layers buried in the snowpack. While this is not recent activity or an easily predictable trend - it continues concern for these layers. The Hurley has been the bulls-eye for avalanche activity on persistent weak layers in the middle and bottom of the snowpack.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
