Wind slabs are likely to remain reactive to human-triggering.
Continually assess as you travel, back off steep terrain if you see signs of instability, like shooting cracks.
New snow and moderate northwest wind are building wind slabs at upper elevations. Wind slabs are likely to be more reactive where they are building of old hard surfaces like crusts and wind-pressed snow.
Persistent weak layers of crust/facets or surface hoar are buried in the upper 250 cm of the snowpack. Distribution seems spotty and signs of instability may not be evident. The best defence is choosing smaller, low-consequence terrain.
Even brief periods of sun will be enough to trigger wet loose avalanches in steep terrain features. The impact might be dampened by moderate wind and cool temperatures.
On Monday, a widespread natural avalanche cycle of storm slab and wind slabs were reported across the region. Sizes were generally size 2 to 2.5. Numerous wet loose avalanches were also reported up to size 2.
Wind slab activity is expected to continue and clear skies are likely to trigger a wet loose cycle.
Recent storm snow is being redistributed by moderate northwest winds developing wind slabs in lee terrain features at upper elevations.
Below this, there are several various old surfaces depending on aspect and elevation:
A sun crust on solar aspects.
Faceted snow and/or surface hoar in sheltered northerly aspects.
Firm wind-pressed snow.
A layer of facets and/or surface hoar from earlier in March can be found 50 to 100 cm deep.
Several persistent weak layers are buried up to 250 cm deep. While triggering these layers is becoming unlikely, they present a low-probability, high-consequence problem.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
