Look for soft snow in sheltered terrain. Watch for reactive pockets around ridgelines and steep rolls as you move into more exposed and alpine-like terrain.
Winds are forecast to increase and shift from the north Tuesday. Pay attention to wind direction, wind slabs form on leeward slopes and in cross-loaded terrain.
On Friday, east of Pine Pass, natural and human triggered avalanches up to size 2 were reported in wind exposed treeline and alpine terrain. See photo below for more info and a link to the MIN report.
If you are out in the backcountry consider submitting your observations to the MIN.
In sheltered terrain, expect to find 20 to 40 cm of settling snow. Southwesterly wind has exposed the ground on windward slopes and formed wind slabs on lee slopes and in cross-loaded terrain.
In sheltered areas, a crust from early December is buried up to 80 cm. Snowpack tests and a lack of recent avalanches suggest that this layer is trending unreactive, however, observations are limited in this region. The lower snowpack is settled and strong.
Data is very limited in this region, please submit MIN reports if you head into the mountains. Any information or photos are helpful!
Monday night
Mostly cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm of snow. 15 to 25 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Wednesday
Sunny. 15 to 25 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 15 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
