Fresh snow covers a crust that extends to the mountain top in many places.
Check the bond between new snow and the crust before committing to avalanche terrain.
A hard crust with surface hoar or facets overtop is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating larger than expected avalanches.
Fresh snow is not expected to bond well to the crust below. Storm slabs will remain most reactive in wind-loaded areas.
It's been a stormy week with a significant natural avalanche cycle occurring, numerous wet loose avalanches up to size 3 have occurred throughout the region on all aspects and elevations over the last few days.
Moderate southwesterly winds continue to impact 10-20 cm of snow, which accumulated through Sunday, along with freezing levels dropping to 800 m.
A hard crust with surface hoar or facets that formed on January 26th is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating large avalanches.
Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 250 to 450 cm.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 700 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 700 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 cm of snow. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
