Before pushing into bigger terrain remember recent wind slabs may still need time to settle and stabilize at higher elevations. Exercise caution around ridges and rib features, where wind slabs are more likely to be reactive.
Small windslabs may persist in exposed alpine and treeline terrain despite the current mild and calm weather. Reactive windslabs are likely isolated to steep, northerly terrain, immediately behind ridges or high points.
No new avalanches have been reported. Evidence of a natural avalanche cycle during the recent stormy weather has been reported.
Keep sharing your observations by submitting a MIN report! They are especially helpful in the early season when snowpack information can be limited.
Up to 60cm of new snow arrived with strong southerly winds between last Thursday and Sunday afternoon. With the current trend of generally mild and calm weather, the upper snowpack will continue to settle and stabilize. A crust exists on the ground, in southerly aspects, and at lower elevations. Snowpack depths generally range from 90-140 cm at treeline.
With the recent snowfall lower elevations are at or approaching their threshold for avalanches.
Sunday night
Clearing skies, with light northerly winds and temperatures as low as -6 C in the alpine. Freezing levels around 500 m.
Monday
Mostly clear skies with light northerly winds and temperatures slightly below freezing in the alpine. Freezing levels will generally range from 500-800 m.
TuesdayMainly cloudy with no precipitation. Light winds and temperatures just below freezing in the alpine. Freezing levels remain around 500-800 m.
WednesdayA mix of sun and could, with no precipitation. Alpine winds remain light. Freezing levels rise significantly, well into the alpine.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
