Use extra caution at treeline and below where persistent weak layers have been most reactive. Be aware that wind slabs could step down to these layers.
Natural avalanche activity has tapered off but human triggering of persistent slabs is still possible.
wind has been variable, wind slab could be found on all aspects, but as southerly winds increase the largest and most reactive wind slabs will be found on north aspects.
A layer of facets formed during the period of arctic air is now down around 30cm but could be found down as deep as 50cm. This layer has now produced natural avalanches at all elevations. It is likely most reactive at treeline where surface hoar could also exist as part of this layer.
Natural avalanche activity has tapered off on this layer but human triggering is still possible.
Over the past few days we received several reports of previous natural avalanches up to size 2.5. These avalanches released in the facet layer produced during the recent period of arctic air. These avalanches have occurred at all elevations and on a variety of aspects.
Check out this MIN report from our field team for some photos and a good summary of this type of activity.
If you are headed out into the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain information Network report.
Around 30 to 40cm of recent snow has been redistributed into wind slab in exposed terrain at treeline and above. In non-wind effected terrain this recent snow sits on a layer of facets formed during the period of arctic air. Below treeline a thin crust can likely be found at or near the surface.
A surface hoar and facet layer from early December, while spotty, can still be found down around 60cm.
In General snowpack depths are highly variable throughout the region.
Saturday Night
Cloudy with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southwest winds and a low of -4 at 1500m.
Sunday
Cloudy with no new snow expected. Southerly winds increasing throughout the day to strong at ridgetop. A high of -4 at 1500m.
Monday
Cloudy with trace amounts of new snow expected. Moderate to strong southeast winds and a high of -7 at 1500m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Light Southeast winds and a high of -7 at 1500m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
