Watch for signs of slab instability like shooting cracks or fresh avalanches, and use extra caution around slopes that are being warmed by the sun.
Be ready to change plans with the potential for quick changes in the weather.
Storm totals are up to 20cm in some areas. Due to recent, moderate southwest wind, expect to find deeper, more reactive deposits on leeward slopes.
On any aspect except north, these slabs will be sitting on a refrozen crust formed by the recent sun and warm temperatures. It will be easier to cause an avalanche where slabs sit on top of this crust.
A weak layer of facets exists near the base of the snowpack. The likelihood of human triggering is low given the layer's depth. Suspect terrain for human triggering includes steep, shallow, and rocky terrain where the snowpack transitions from thin to thick.
No new avalanches have been reported in the past few days.
If you are getting out in the backcountry, consider making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network). You can share riding conditions, avalanche or snowpack observations, or even just a photo. Heck, share what you had for lunch if that was the most eventful thing that happened:)
10-20cm of soft snow sits over a thin crust on steep slopes facing the sun right up into the alpine. Snow that fell last week has been redistributed by northeast winds. On high, north-facing terrain, wind slabs may sit over facets and surface hoar.
The mid-snowpack is generally strong. There continues to be a weak layer of facets from November at the base of the snowpack. This layer remains a concern in rocky, shallow, or thin to thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.
A generally convective weather pattern will mean that the next few days will have spotty areas of cloud and light snowfall, or quick bursts of intense snowfall, but it also might be sunny, and everything could change at the drop of a hat.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear. No new snow expected. Light northwest wind. Freezing level falling to valley bottom. Treeline low around -11°C
Monday
Mostly sunny. No new snow expected. Light northwest wind. Freezing level rising to 1300 m. Treeline high around -7°C.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. Possible trace of snow expected. Light variable wind. Freezing level at valley bottom in the morning, rising to 1300 m.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy. 0-2 cm of snow expected. Light to moderate southwest wind. Freezing level at valley bottom in the morning, rising to 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
