Slab conditions are the main concern right now. Use caution on any snow that feels firm or slabby.
The wind direction has varied, meaning wind slabs may be found on all aspects in wind-exposed terrain. Assess for slabs before committing to high consequence terrain.
Various weak layers exist in the top metre of the snowpack. These layers could be triggered by riders anywhere a hard slab of snow exists above them. Where the snow remains soft, the likelihood of triggering a slab avalanche is low.
On Thursday a few small (size 1) wind slab avalanches where easily skier triggered at or near ridge crests in the alpine.
On Tuesday. wind slabs were observed in alpine terrain on all aspects.
On Monday, riders triggered small storm slab avalanches within the recent storm snow. They were 20 cm deep at treeline on northerly aspects. These add to the many small to large (size 1 to 2) slabs observed last weekend, on all aspects and elevations.
Storm snow from the end of January totaled between 30 to 50 cm and are beginning to slowly facet with surface hoar formation occurring. Past strong winds from various directions had redistributed this snow, but in wind-sheltered terrain it remains soft. This snow overlies various layers that it may not bond well to, including faceted grains, surface hoar crystals in wind-sheltered openings, and a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes.
The middle portion of the snowpack is relatively weak with numerous other layers of faceted grains, surface hoar, and/or crusts that formed over the month of January.
The lower snowpack is well settled and strong.
Saturday night
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, and little accumulation of snow. 5 to 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low temperature -17 °C.
Sunday
Sun and cloud. 5 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -14 °C.
Monday
Sunny. 15 to 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
