Hazard is approaching Considerable in the alpine. This is a cautious rating that reflects our confidence in slabs forming, yet we recognize they haven't formed just yet. Expect a very rapid change in real time hazard once wind appears. Alpine cols will be the canary in the coal mine for us. Watch those closely for snow transport and new slabs.
It's a bit tricky forecasting for these slabs. They aren't around yet, but it feels as though they could show up any moment. Best advice is to watch wind patterns closely and really pay close attention to how dense the snow is around you.
Loose dry activity has basically stopped, with the only exception being very steep alpine terrain. No slabs were seen or reported today.
Storm snow is settling slightly with amounts down to 40cm on average at treeline. There are pockets of deeper snow here and there, but they are getting harder to find. So far all the settlement is simply from the weight of the snow and not the wind. This settlement still isn't considered a slab by any means, but it does feel like we're on the cusp of having soft slabs in some places (gullies and other areas that might experience localized down flow winds). The Valentine's layer is certainly there, but without a stiff slab on top of it, there's no problem. Until we have a slab, It's hard to thoroughly test this interface, but so far it seems to be bonding well. The midpack continues to be strong, with no obvious or widespread week layers.
Looks like we've got one more chilly night before the cold makes it's exit. Expect -25 as an overnight low, with a daytime high of -12. Not much for snow tomorrow, maybe a light flurry or two, but not enough to make a difference. Winds will continue to be light, ranging from 5km/hr to maybe 15km/hr at ridge line. The afternoon might see a slight increase, in alpine winds, but only to the 30km/hr range. NW is the predominant wind direction for the day.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
