New wind slabs are expected to form on Saturday night and will be reactive to human triggering on Sunday. Seek out wind-sheltered terrain at lower elevations for the best riding and safest conditions.
New snowfall amounts are not expected to be too substantial but will be accompanied by strong southwest winds which will form new wind slabs for Sunday. Older wind slabs that formed during the recent northeast outflow winds may still be reactive to human triggering, so wind slabs should now be expected on all aspects in wind-exposed terrain.
No new avalanches were observed on Thursday or Friday.
Earlier in the week there was evidence of deep persistent slab activity that likely occurred during last weekend's storm with avalanches up to size 3.5. While we currently expect the deep weak layer to be dormant, riders should continue to avoid steep, thin, rocky slopes where triggering a deep persistent avalanche would be most likely, particularly near alpine ridgelines.
Looking forward, we anticipate that new wind slabs will form Saturday night which will be sensitive to human triggering on Sunday.
The new snowfall will arrive with strong southwest wind Saturday night, forming new wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The snow will overlie older wind slabs that formed between Tuesday and Friday from strong northeast wind. This means that wind slabs may be found on all aspects.
The middle of the snowpack is generally strong.
A weak layer of large and weak facets is found near the base of the snowpack. The layer is currently dormant, except perhaps in very steep alpine terrain that is inherently shallow. Riders should continue to avoid thin, rocky terrain where the likelihood of triggering this layer is increased.
Saturday Night
Snowfall 5-15 cm, moderate to strong S-SW wind, treeline low around -20 °C.
Sunday
Snow flurries in the morning 1-3 cm, light to moderate SW-W wind, treeline high around -14 °C.
Monday
Mainly cloudy with light flurries, light to moderate SW wind, treeline high around -14 °C.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy with light flurries, light SE wind, treeline high around -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
