An above-freezing layer is promoting settling in the upper snowpack at alpine and treeline through the day. Watch for increased signs of instability such as natural avalanches as stability deteriorates with warm temperatures.
Moderate winds varying in direction have affected all aspects. Use caution as you transition into wind-affected terrain, especially around ridge crest and wind-loaded features.
A weak layer from late December is found down 50 -100 cm. Particularly in the central and northern parts of the region, this layer is made of preserved surface hoar crystals that sit on a crust. In the southern part of the region, it is a soft weak layer of decomposed crystals.
Freezing levels reach well into the alpine Wednesday and Thursday causing surface snow to slowly deteriorate. With warm temperatures, even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches cycle on surface layers.
Elevated alpine temperatures are also weakening cornices. Stay back from cornices and minimize exposure time below cornices.
No recent avalanches have been reported from this region.
There have not been any persistent slab avalanches reported since January 13. At that time the persistent weak layer was most reactive in the central and northern parts of the region, particularly around Hurley and Birkenhead.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
The region's generally weak snowpack structure remains.
10-20 cm of storm snow sits over wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations and a crust below 1800 m.
A weak layer that formed in late December can be found 50-100 cm deep. In the Hurley and Birkenhead areas it may present as surface hoar sitting on a crust and can be found between 1700 and 1900m in elevation. The crust varies in thickness with terrain and elevation; in many places it's more of a soft and weak section of the snowpack.
There is a widespread weak layer of facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack. Snowpack depths around treeline are highly variable and range between 150 - 230 cm.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. Northwesterly ridge top winds 20 km/h gusting 40 km/h. 1500m temperature low of -3C. An above freezing layer develops from 1500 - 2500 m by morning.
Wednesday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Light northwesterly winds occasionally gusting to 25 km/h. 1500m temperature high of +2C. An above freezing layer is present between 1500-2600m.
Thursday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Moderate northwesterly winds occasionally gusting to 40 km/h. 1500m temperature high of +1C. An above freezing layer is present between 1500-2600m.
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light westerly winds occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high of -2C. Freezing level of 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
