Dangerous avalanche conditions exist on wind-loaded slopes, especially where wind slab overlies facets.
Seek sheltered terrain, away from overhead hazard.
Wind slabs remain likely at higher elevations, particularly during periods of snow and increased wind transport. Small wind slabs have the potential to step down to deeper weak layers in the upper snowpack.
A buried layer of facets in the snowpack is expected to be more reactive in wind-affected features, producing widely propagating avalanches.
Recent snow over the last week has been redistributed by primarily southwest winds. Exposed terrain is wind-pressed or scoured down to old crusts formed in late January. While wind slab formation continues to occur in leeward or cross-loaded terrain.
Two notable layers exist in the snowpack. A layer of facets from early February, up to 40 cm deep. A thick crust from late January, 50 to 100 cm deep. Both of these layers are a concern in wind-affected terrain.
The remainder of the snowpack is well settled.
Large natural wind slab avalanches up to size 2.5 continue to be observed, likely occurring during periods of rapid loading due to strong winds. These have occurred on a variety of aspects, indicating variability in wind patterns.
Please post any photos or observations to the MIN if you head out.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow above 1300 m, rain below . 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 5 to 10 cm of snow, rain below 1000 m, rising to 1400 m in the afternoon. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
