Strong southerly winds have formed fresh wind slabs in the alpine. Avoid steep north-facing terrain where triggering a wind slab is more likely.
Light new snow and elevated southwest wind should build fresh wind slabs, though limited in destructive potential. Watch for reactive pockets near ridge crests and rollovers.
Although activity on deeper layers has tapered, a string of persistent slabs in the recent past should keep this problem in your risk management. Use lower consequence slopes in sheltered areas where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
There has been little avalanche activity reported in the previous few days. If you do observe an avalanche, consider posting a MIN.
Looking forward, human triggering of small, fresh wind slabs and deeper, more destructive persistent weak layers remains possible.
Light new snow amounts are beginning to bury a widespread layer of surface hoar crystals, which sit over a crust on solar aspects and low elevations.
A layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust formed during the February drought, are buried 30 to 50 cm deep and give easy results in snowpack tests.
Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December can be found. This layer appears to be dormant but is still worth managing in thin snowpack areas in the alpine.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy. 10 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with 0 to 3 cm of new snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with scattered flurries. 40 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
