6 AM Update: Snow is finally coming! And with it, heightened avalanche conditions. Seek out sheltered, lower angle slopes for the best quality and safest skiing and riding.
Around 10 to 15 cm of new snow with strong to extreme winds should form a dangerous wind slab problem for Tuesday. Avoid ruling out windward slopes prematurely, slab formation may be quite widespread.
A weak layer of facets may be found 70 to 150 cm deep. In shallower inland areas, weak depth hoar exists to ground.
No avalanches have been reported since before January 16, but observations are limited. We should see a sharp uptick in avalanche conditions with Tuesday's new snow and wind.
Be sure to post your observations to the MIN if you are out in the mountains!
10 to 15 cm of new snow should accumulate under strong to extreme winds by end-of-day Tuesday, with snowfall favouring the US/Canada border area. The new snow will bury (and wind will contribute to) heavily wind-affected surfaces in most areas.
In sheltered terrain below 1300 m and on south facing slopes, the new snow buries a crust that may have surface hoar preserved on it. Not a good combo!
A weak layer of facets is buried 80 to 150 cm deep and continues to produce hard but sudden snowpack test results. In shallow snowpack areas, the bottom half of the snowpack is composed of weak depth hoar.
Monday Night
Cloudy with flurries bringing 5 to 10 cm of new snow, greatest near the US/Canada border. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with easing flurries and a further 5 to 10 cm of new snow, still greatest near the border. 60 km/h south ridgetop wind, easing in the afternoon. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries and minimal accumulation. 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries and 1 to 3 cm of new snow. 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
