Dangerous avalanche conditions exist.
Avoid wind-loaded slopes, especially where wind slabs overlie facets or in thin, rocky terrain where persistent slabs are easier to trigger.
Ongoing snowfall and wind continue to stress buried weak layers in the upper snowpack. Facets, surface hoar, and crusts in the snowpack may be more reactive, producing widely propagating avalanches.
Ongoing storm slab formation is widespread, particularly in wind-loaded terrain, where slabs are deeper and more sensitive to triggering.
A party observed natural avalanche activity below treeline in the Revision Creek area on Thursday, outlined in this MIN.
There have been very few reports in this region. If you do get out, please consider posting a MIN.
Up to 100 cm of storm snow has accumulated in the past week. In exposed terrain, this snow has been heavily wind-affected by strong southwest winds. In wind-sheltered terrain, the recent snow remains generally low density and may be sitting on a weak layer of surface hoar or a crust.
Variable crust, facet, and/or surface hoar layers, buried throughout February, may exist within the upper 150 cm of the snowpack. These layers are most concerning near and below treeline, especially where the snowpack is shallow. Read more about the persistent slab problem here.
Below these layers, the remaining snowpack is generally well settled and well bonded.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 70 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
