Use extra caution at treeline where surface hoar is well preserved.
Reports are coming in indicating that this layer is sensitive to human triggers.
Recent storm snow has formed a storm slab at all elevations. Triggering of avalanches is most likely at treeline where surface hoar is well preserved. Size and sensitivity of storm slabs could increas throughout the day.
Several size one natural and skier triggered avalanches were reported in the region on Saturday. Many of these were remotely triggered. These avalanches were at treeline and on all aspects.
As more snow falls and the slab stiffens, we expect the size of avalanches to increase.
Check out this MIN that does a great job describing conditions.
Up to 40 cm of new snow has fallen on a layer of large surface hoar. On steep south facing slopes this surface hoar sits on a thin sun crust. On north and east facing slopes in the alpine new snow has formed wind slab.
The mid pack is generally well settled.
A crust with sugary facets beneath it can be found 20 cm above the ground.
The snowpack is still shallow for this time of year. Average snowpack depth at treeline range from 80 to 120 cm.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy with trace to 5 cm of new snow expected, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -4°C.
Monday
Cloudy with 10 to 30 cm of new snow expected, south alpine wind 15 to 40 km/h, freezing level rising to around 2000 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 15 to 40 cm of new snow expected, southwest alpine wind 30 to 60 km/h, freezing level around 2400 m.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud with trace to 5 cm of new snow expected, south alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, freezing level falling to 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
