New wind slab formation may occur on Thursday as a multi-day storm rolls in.
As a storm starts impacting the region on Thursday, new snow and strong wind may form new wind slabs. The most likely place to find them will be in steep terrain features adjacent to ridges. Look for signs of instability and be cautious if you enter steep features.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, 20 km/h west wind, alpine temperature -8 C.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, 40 km/h west wind, alpine temperature -7 C.
FRIDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 20 cm, 40 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -5 C.
SATURDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 20 cm, 30 km/h south wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1400 m.
No new avalanches were observed on Wednesday at the time of writing. Looking ahead, newly formed wind slabs will be the primary concern on Thursday.
An incoming storm will bring strong southwest wind and a bit of new snow on Thursday, forming wind slabs at treeline and alpine elevations. The new snow may overly widespread wind affect at alpine elevations, feathery surface hoar on northerly aspects and in sheltered terrain features around treeline, or a melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects and below treeline.
There are presently no widespread deeper concerns. However, faceted snow at the base of the snowpack exists in much of the region and always has the potential of being triggered in shallow, rocky slopes.
