Avalanche danger will increase as the wind picks up. We have uncertainty around the timing of the wind, but once it starts to blow, deep and reactive wind slabs are likely to trigger naturally as they form.
Upwards of 45 cm of low density snow sits available for wind transport. As winds build, the recent snow will likely be transported into leeward terrain features and stiffened into slabs. These slabs are expected to be highly reactive due to a poor bond to underlying surfaces.
Thursday night: 5-10 cm of low density snow with moderate SW wind. Alpine temperatures near -15.
Friday: Continued snow flurries 5-10 cm. SW wind building to strong. Alpine temperature near -15.
Saturday: Continued snow flurries 5-10 cm. Strong SW wind. Alpine temperature warming to -5.
Sunday: Continued snow flurries 5-10 cm. Strong SW wind. Alpine temperature near -5.
On Wednesday numerous size 1 dry loose and soft slabs ran naturally and were easily reactive to skier triggering. On the Alaska side, strong outflow winds made for touchy avalanche conditions, with natural releases running to the road. We are expecting similar conditions in White Pass as the wind picks up.
Flurries continue to accumulate over 45 cm of low-density snow from Wednesday. As the wind picks up on Friday, all that new snow will likely be transported into wind slabs in lee terrain features. These fresh slabs will likely be reactive due to a poor bond to underlying surfaces including surface hoar on sheltered northerly aspects and hard slab in wind-affected areas.
In shallow snowpack areas a layer of loose facets sits at the bottom of the snowpack.
