Where a supportive crust exists, avalanches are unlikely.
Investigate alpine terrain for heightened avalanche hazard due to buried weak layers.
Facets and/or surface hoar buried 40 to 80 cm deep are most prominent on north-facing slopes in the alpine. Avoid areas with a thin or variable (thin to thick) snowpack.
Watch for surface snow becoming moist, especially on solar slopes, with warm temperatures and sun.
Where a thick, supportive surface crust is found, we expect that triggering avalanches on buried weak layers is unlikely.
Size 2 to 3 persistent slab avalanches were last reported on Tuesday 25th. There have been limited other reports through the week.
Wind has modified surfaces and formed slabs in lee features. A crust is found up to 1500 m on all aspects and higher on solar slopes.
A layer of surface hoar is now buried 30 to 60 cm deep, it persists at alpine elevations and on 'polar aspects' (slopes protected from the sun).
Another layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust buried in mid-February is 60 to 100 cm below the snow surface and has been reactive in snowpack tests.
Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December can be found. This layer appears to be dormant but is still worth keeping in mind in thin snowpack areas in the alpine.
Sunday Night
Clear. 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Monday
Partly cloudy. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rises to 1700 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with snow showers, light accumulations, snow above 1000 m. 25 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level rising to 1400 m through the day.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
