Watch for pockets of stiff wind slab at upper elevations from recent winds. These slabs may be in atypical areas due to reverse-loading.
Expect to find fresh reactive wind slabs on south and west-facing terrain features. Wind slabs may be particularly reactive where they overlie the mid-January crust.
On Saturday, several wind slabs, up to size 1, were reported to be reactive to natural and human triggers.
Loose dry avalanches were reported on Friday, as new snow accumulated.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
10-30 cm of storm snow can be found, affected by moderate to strong north/east winds at higher elevations. New snow sits over wind affected surfaces at higher elevations.
A melt freeze crust from mid January may sit just below the surface in exposed areas and around 30 cm deep in sheltered terrain, found up to 2100 m.
The mid snowpack continues to settle and is well consolidated. Facets exist near the base of the snowpack. Total snowpack depth ranges between 100 cm to 200 cm in wind loaded areas.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear with cloudy periods. Northwesterly ridgetop winds 40-50 km/h. Alpine low temperatures of -23°C.
Monday
Mainly sunny with increasing clouds and isolated flurries in the evening, trace accumulation. Northwesterly ridgetop winds switch to westerly in the afternoon 60 km/h. Alpine high temperatures of -16°C.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Moderate westerly ridgetop winds occasionally gusting 60 km/h. Alpine low temperatures of -12°C.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Moderate westerly ridgetop winds occasionally gusting 60 km/h. Alpine low temperatures of -8°C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
