Microwave-Sinclair

It's still warm at higher elevations, so be cautious of overhead hazards and large terrain.

It is uncertain how the continued warmth will affect the snowpack so watch for signs of instability

January 16 and 17

• No new avalanches reported but observations are limited. Consider posting to the MIN if you are out in the mountains!

January 15

• Several large (size 2-2.5) windslab avalanches where reported (likely from a few days before).

• The wind slabs where naturally triggered during the past storm with a few of them being triggered by cornice failures.

Moderate

• Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

The snow surface is highly wind-affected in exposed alpine terrain. At treeline and below, the snow surfaces has formed a crust with moist snow beneath it.

Below 1600 m the surface crust is up to 20 cm thick and poses additional slip and fall hazards.

A layer of facets is buried around 50 to 100 cm deep and is slowly gaining strength.

The mid and lower snowpack have no layers of concern. Snowpack depths are generally around 150-200 cm deep at treeline.

Sunday Night
Clear skies. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C with an above freezing layer between 1300 m and 3600 m.

Monday
Sunny. 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. with an above freezing layer between 1300 m and 3600 m.

Tuesday
Sunny. 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C with an above freezing layer between 1500 m and 2800 m.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C with an above freezing layer between 1500 m and 2700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• The more the snowpack warms up and weakens, the more conservative your terrain selection should be.
• Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
• Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.