Light snow and strong winds brings potential for reactive wind slabs to build. Use caution around freshly loaded terrain features.
Head to very sheltered terrain for the best chance of good snow.
Fresh wind slabs may form over hard snow surfaces, and over a crust on south facing features.
Older wind slabs formed by west and northwest wind might still be reactive to human triggers, especially where they overlie feathery surface hoar.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy, 5 cm of snow possible overnight, moderate to strong southwest wind, freezing level at valley bottom.
FRIDAY: Cloudy, 5-15 cm of snow throughout the day. Strong southwest wind, alpine high -1 °C, freezing levels reach 1200 m over the day.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy with some sun possible. Flurries bring up to 2 cm of snow, moderate westerly winds easing. Freezing levels reach 1000 m over the day, alpine high of -2.
SUNDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Moderate westerly winds. Freezing levels around 1000 m. Alpine high -2.
Over the last three days, small natural and skier triggered wind slabs have been reported in isolated terrain features, mostly on east facing slopes.
This storm will provide fresh snow for strong winds to transport - expect new slabs to be reactive to human triggers.
Light snowfall will bury heavily wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain and a crust on sun affected features. Dry snow can be found on north and east aspects above 1400 m.
A layer of surface hoar that was buried at the beginning of March sits 10-20 cm deep. This can be found in isolated, wind sheltered areas. It was last reactive to skier traffic in the north of the region on Monday.
The mid-February crust is now buried 40-60 cm deep. Though this layer has not produced avalanche activity, small avalanches or large loads may step down to this layer.
The lower snowpack is well bridged by the mid-February crust, and triggering avalanches below this layer is unlikely at this time.
