Pay attention to accumulating snowfall - avalanche hazard will increase as the next storm brings more snow and wind.
As snowfall accumulates, expect a more widespread and reactive slab to form. Be especially cautious around ridges and (previously) wind-affected terrain, and in pockets with the deepest depositions.
On January 6, a natural avalanche cycle to size 2.5 was observed, and storm slabs to size 2 were reactive to rider traffic, as well as sluffing in steep terrain.
A very large (size 4) avalanche was reported on Joffre shoulder and around towards Slalok; observed from a distance it is hard to determine what layer this avalanche failed.
Strong southwest then northerly wind has impacted loose snow at upper elevations. More snow and wind is forecast starting Monday.
30-60 cm of recent and settling snow covers the Dec 30 crust (and isolated Jan 3 surface hoar), this crust is more prominent at treeline and below, and varies in thickness and strength across the forecast area. A Dec 20 crust is being tracked further west of this forecast region. Now down 80-120 cm, facets and surface hoar over a crust have been trending dormant except for a few large, suspect avalanches reported Jan 6. Snowpack depths are 80-120 cm around treeline and decrease rapidly below.
Sunday Night
Cloudy with isolated flurries. Light increasing ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.
Monday
Cloudy with flurries, 5 cm. Southwest ridgetop increasing to strong. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
TuesdaySnow, 10-25 cm. Strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.
WednesdaySnowfall decreasing, 5 cm. Moderate decreas9jgmsouthwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
