Recently formed wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on steep and/or convex slopes.
Cornices are very large in many areas. Cornice failures may trigger large avalanches on the slopes below.
Recently formed wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on steep and/or convex slopes; especially where they are sitting on a slippery sun crust or a weak layer of surface hoar.
Cornices are very large in many areas. Cornice failures may trigger large avalanches on the slopes below.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Increasing cloudiness / Strong northwest winds / Low of -17 / Freezing level surface.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy / Light northwest wind / High of -7 / Freezing level surface.
FRIDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-5 cm / Strong west wind / High of -2 / Freezing level rising to 1200 m.
SATURDAY: Snow; 5-15 cm / Strong northwest wind / High of -2 / Freezing level 1200 m.
No new avalanches were reported on Tuesday.
A skier triggered size 1.5 wind slab was reported on a east aspect below a treeline ridgetop on Monday. The wind slab was sitting on a layer of recently buried surface hoar which resulted in wide propagation of the slab.
Riders may get surprised by widely propagating wind slabs that are sitting on crusts and/or surface hoar.
10-15 cm of recent snow and west/northwest winds have formed wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above. These slabs may remain more reactive on south facing slopes where they are sitting on a slippery sun crust. Below the recent snow, there may be a layer of small surface hoar that is likely most pronounced on northerly aspects or sheltered locations.
Lower elevations have seen warm temperatures last week and have a melt freeze crust on the surface.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong in most areas, with multiple crusts throughout. No recent persistent slab avalanches have been reported on these layers.
