730 am update: Evaluate slopes as you transition into steep, open terrain features where fresh wind slabs may form today.
Check out this MIN report from Crowsnest Pass. It's a great example of where the wind slab problem can be found.
New snow and moderate winds will build new thin wind slabs over older wind slabs that may still be reactive. Lee terrain features like ridges and high points will be likely areas where multiple layers of wind slab may be reactive.
Small (size 1) isolated pockets of wind slabs continue to be triggered by riders in lee terrain features. Wind slabs may linger directly lee of ridges at high elevations.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
2 to 5 cm of new snow coupled with moderate to strong southwest winds will build thin wind slabs in lee features at alpine and treeline elevations. A melt-freeze crust can be found at 2100 m and below at variable depths, on the surface on windward slopes, and buried 15 to 20 cm in lees. Wind slabs of variable age may be more reactive where they sit on this crust.
The middle of the snowpack is consolidated. Weak faceted grains exist near the base of the snowpack.
The average snowpack depth is 120 cm and 200 cm in wind-loaded areas.
Friday Night
Mainly cloudy, scattered flurries trace accumulation, 40 to 50 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -6 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation of 2 to 5 cm, 30 to 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -3 °C, freezing level 1500 m.
SundayMostly cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, 20 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1700 m.
MondayMorning clouds, clearing in the afternoon. Scattered flurries 2 to 3 cm, 20 to 30 km/h southwest winds, treeline temperatures -2 °C, freezing level 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
