Current conditions are challenging and require slope by slope evaluation. If in doubt, choose simple terrain.
30+cm of recent storm snow and strong southwesterly winds have formed thick wind slabs reactive to human triggers. Additional amounts of snow and more wind transport are expected over the next days, maintaining the likelihood triggering wind slabs.
A persistent weak layer of facets over a crust near the bottom of the snowpack has been reported as being reactive to human triggers near Fraser. Read the Mountain Information Network report HERE.
The snow will taper off as outflow winds push drier and colder air across White Pass as the Arctic front finally moves further south. Flurries will be on and off until the next significant snowfall late Tuesday.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Snow 5-10 cm / Strong, southwesterly winds / Low of -12
MONDAY: Cloudy with flurries, 3-5 cm / Strong, southerly winds / High of -10
TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries; 3-5 cm / Moderate, southerly winds / High of -10
WEDNESDAY: Snow 10-15 cm / Strong, southwesterly winds / High of -8
Few natural avalanches (size 1) were observed on cross-loaded features at treeline on Saturday near Powder Valley after the recent strong winds formed reactive slabs. Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer combining facets and crusts has also produced isolated, but surprisingly large avalanches.
If you go out in the mountains, please post your observations and/or photos to the Mountain Information Network!
With uncertainty about the snowpack structure, it may also be possible to trigger large avalanches from thin areas on big alpine slopes. Until there is more information about the snowpack, an extra-cautious approach and careful snowpack evaluation is recommended, especially in high-consequence terrain.
30+ cm of recent storm snow and strong southwesterly winds have formed thick wind slabs reactive to human triggers.
A persistent weak layer of facets over a crust near the bottom of the snowpack has been reported as being reactive to human triggers near Fraser. Read about it in the Mountain Information network HERE.
