Northerly winds will have produced wind slabs at higher elevations and may be reactive to human triggering, particularly where they overlie a crust.
New snow on Wednesday focused in the southern parts of the region could increase the avalanche hazard.
At lower elevations, a crust will make for challenging travel conditions, but generally safe avalanche conditions.
Recent snowfall and northerly winds may have formed fresh wind slabs at upper elevations. These slabs have formed over a smooth crust and as a result, they may not bond well.
Monday, backcountry users reported a few small wet loose avalanches. Until temperatures cool, expect to see more of these.
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A crust near or on the surface may extend into the alpine from warm temperatures and rain on Monday. At higher elevations, 10 to 20 cm of recent snowfall has been redistributed by northwesterly winds, scouring windward slopes and depositing wind slabs in lee areas. A crust, found 20 to 70 cm down, extends to mountain tops on all aspects. Recent reports suggest this crust is bonding poorly to the snow above.
The remainder of the snowpack is consolidated and strengthened.
Tuesday Night
Cloudy, up to 5 cm accumulation ending early in the evening, winds northeast 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -6 °C and falling.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny with clouds, 3 cm accumulation in most places with up to 10 to 15cm accumulation to the south, winds north 20 to 25 km/h, treeline temperatures -12 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with the sun breaking through later in the day, 2 to 5 cm accumulation ending in the morning, winds 35 to 40 km/h, treeline temperatures -13 °C.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds north 25 km/h, treeline temperatures -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
