Keep a heads up for lurking windslab around ridgetop lee features, especially in unsupported or extreme terrain.
Isolated pockets of wind slab exist near ridgetop and in wind affected areas. Flurries and moderate winds are sustaining this problem. Field teams have observed enough wind transport to make wind slab the primary concern.
We have observed a few natural avalanches up to size 2 this week. They occurred in the steep terrain east of Rogers Pass.
Reports on rider triggered sluffing in steep terrain have continued throughout the week.
There are also some great MIN reports that show rider controlled windslabs in steep terrain.
Around 60cm of new snow has fallen over the past week. This new snow has been redistributed by moderate wind which has created pockets of soft slabs in wind prone areas. There is a isolated sun crust buried ~15cm on steep S aspects.
The snowpack is strong with a well settled mid-pack. An interface down 90-120 has been unreactive for weeks. It consists of surface hoar in sheltered locations, and a sun crust on solar aspects.
Cool temps and light flurries persist Friday as the high pressure system dominates the weather for another day
Tonight Cloudy w/flurries. Trace precip, Alp Low: -10, Ridge wind: SE 15. Freezing level (FZL) at valley bottom.
Fri Cloudy w/flurries. Trace precip. Alp High: -5. Wind: SE 15. FZL 1000m.
Sat Flurries 5cm, Alp high -6 °C. Wind: SW 15-25. FZL 1400m
Sun Cloudy w/ flurries. Trace precip. Wind: SW 10-20. FZL 700m
