The region will see a return to winter this week. New snow does not often bond well to crusts.
Storm slabs will build as snow accumulates. Upper elevations in particular may receive more snow than is forecast. If there is greater than 20cm of new snow in the area you are riding, exercise greater caution and assess the new bond carefully.
MONDAY NIGHT: -2C, winds light S changing to N/NE overnight, increasing clouds, trace amounts of new snow.
TUESDAY: low -7C high -3, moderate N/NE winds, mostly cloudy, 5cm new snow
WEDNESDAY: low -7C high -1C, light NE winds, mostly cloudy, 5cm new snow
THURSDAY: low -5C high 0C, light N winds, cloudy, 5cm new snow
No new avalanches were observed over the weekend. One new cornice failure was reported. This cornice did not produce a slab avalanche. As new snow arrives this week, the bond between it and the existing hard surfaces should be closely assessed.
A big THANK YOU to all of you that provided us and fellow recreationists with observations this season. Please continue to do so if you head out!
Very firm snow and crusts are present at all elevations and on all aspects. New snow arriving this week may not bond well to these firm surfaces. These layers can act as an excellent gliding surface for new wind slab or storm slab avalanches in areas of greater accumulation.
The White Pass area still has a deep snowpack without any layers of concern. A thinner and weaker snowpack exists in inland regions, such as the Wheaton Valley.
