As the skies clear and temperatures rise, the more the hazard will increase.
There is some uncertainty around how well the recent snow is bonding to old surfaces. Assess this problem by digging down and watching for signs like cracking, whumphing, and recent avalanches.
Strong winds Tuesday night could produce wind slabs in specific locations, particularly at ridgetop and areas previously untouched by the wind.
A surface slab may have formed with previous wind and/or daytime warming in specific locations, sitting over hard surfaces and/or surface hoar. This is a developing problem that could catch users off guard as it is likely susceptible to human triggering.
Clear skies and warm air will elevate freezing to ridgetop and higher on southerly aspects. Wet loose avalanches are expected, particularly proximate to southerly rock outcrops.
Debris from a recent size 2.5 (last 48 hours) was observed out of the north side of Mt. Stephen today. A size 2 recent windslab avalanche out of the SE side of Brewster rock near Sunshine was also observed.
Over the weekend multiple avalanche involvements were reported, up to size 2, all running 10-25 cm deep on the surface hoar/crust layer.
Your MIN reports are very useful when building our forecasts. Thank you all for past and future submissions
Incremental small inputs of new snow over the last week (10-30cm) overlies the Jan 24th surface hoar, crust and/or previously wind affected snow. This surface snow is consolidating into a slab with warm temperatures and wind.
Wednesday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperature: High 2 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 40 km/h. Freezing level: 2800m
Thursday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperature: Low 0 °C, High 2 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 40 km/h. Freezing level: 2900m
Friday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperature: Low -2 °C, High 1 °C. Freezing level: 2800m.
