Flurries and wind will build thin, reactive deposits through the day and may hide recently formed wind slabs, use caution around cornices and lee terrain. Loose wet avalanches remain a concern, travel early and avoid moist/wet slopes.
Wind slabs have likely formed above 2000 m from recent snow and strong southwest winds. Flurries Monday may hide old slabs and develop new ones. Use caution around ridges and lee terrain features where deposits may be more reactive.
The likelihood of loose wet avalanches will increase with accumulating precipitation and a warming snowpack.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level 1700 m.
MONDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries, 5-10 cm, moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 2000 m
TUESDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, light to moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -1 C, freezing level 1800 m
WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and clouds, light southwest wind, alpine temperature +2 C, freezing level 2000 m
Snowballing and loose wet avalanches to size 1.5 were observed in the Duffey Lake area on Saturday.
There have been few observations in the South Coast Inland Region, however the neighboring Sea to Sky region observed a natural avalanche cycle into Saturday. Loose wet avalanches to size 2, wet slab avalanches to size 3, and large cornices failing naturally and triggering slab avalanches to size 3 on the slopes below were reported around the region.
If you have any recent observations during your travels, we would greatly appreciate it if you posted a photo or any other information to the Mountain Information Network (MIN). Thanks!
Warm temperatures and sun has produced a crust on all slopes except for high north alpine areas where a wind-pressed cold snow overlies a crust and up to 40 cm dry snow. Recent strong south winds have developed cornices and built wind slabs around treeline ridges and into the alpine. The snowpack below treeline is saturated and rapidly melting.
