Recent storm snow has buried various surfaces including a surface hoar layer in sheltered terrain features.
Watch for signs of instability and approach steep slopes with caution.
Recent storm snow coupled with moderate to strong winds continue to keep storm slabs primed for human triggering. Recent avalanche activity suggest the new snow needs time to settle and bond to previous surfaces.
Natural avalanches and touchy human triggered activity were reported in the region on Friday. Avalanche were size 1 to 1.5, and 15 to 20 cm deep, with wide propagation.
This MIN report from the Hanging Lake area on Friday shows a touchy storm slab, with several size 1 human triggered avalanches.
Reports of a Surface Hoar layer in the area at treeline could see this problem linger.
Up to 25 cm of recent snow was accompanied by moderate southeast winds, forming storm slabs. This new snow is sitting on a mix of old surfaces, including a layer of surface hoar in sheltered treeline areas, pockets of recent wind slab, and hard melt-freeze crusts in previously exposed terrain.
Since the melt-freeze crust formed and then buried on December 16, a total of 150 cm of snow has accumulated and is settling.
Above 2200 m, this crust is absent and an old crust complex and faceted snow from November is found at the base of the snowpack instead.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm snow above 1700 m, 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
