Watch for reactive wind slabs at higher elevations, especially where the snowpack is thin or variable.
Loose snow will be impacted by wind in open areas. Check for wind slabs in steep and convex slopes at higher elevations or where new snow covers surface hoar.
Use extra caution in areas with a thin, uniform snowpack (less than 100 cm). These areas are inherently weak, with heavily faceted snow and crusts closer to the surface, making them easier to trigger.
On Saturday, riders reported small, reactive soft slabs failing down 10 cm on surface hoar at elevations between 1600-1900 m.
Last Wednesday, near Panorama, a size 1.5 skier-triggered avalanche occurred in a very shallow area, likely failing on a layer of facets. See MIN report here.
Up to 10 cm fresh snow covers a variety of old surfaces, including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes.
In the mid-snowpack, a melt-freeze crust exists that was buried in mid-December. This layer is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.
The lower snowpack consists of a thick melt-freeze crust, with weak faceted snow and/or depth hoar near the ground in areas.
Snow depths vary widely across the region, averaging roughly 100 to 200 cm at treeline.
Sunday night
Mostly clear. Up to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. Up to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level 500 m.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level 600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
