Exercise caution when moving into wind-loaded terrain.
Recent snowfall and strong winds have formed wind slabs in lee features.
As winds increase combined with ongoing light new snowfall, expected wind slabs to present and reactive, near and below ridge crests.
On Friday, a report outlined a human triggered large (size 2) wind slab avalanche. Location was unspecified , but in the western reaches of the forecast region, near the ocean.
Additionally a report from the east side of the white pass, indicated that a machine trigger a large (size 2) wind slab avalanche on a steep north aspect feature at 1200 m.
If you observe an avalanche, please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network.
Recent strong southerly winds have distributed recent snow onto north aspects, creating reactive wind slabs. 15-25 cm of settled surface snow can be found in sheltered areas and a melt-freeze crust covers most solar slopes as well as northerly slopes up to 1250 m.
Below 1100 m the snowpack is wet and unconsolidated.
A buried surface hoar or crust layer, 40 to 60 cm deep, is variable in distribution.
A December crust with facets, 100 to 150 cm deep on all aspects up to 1750 m, has shown no significant test results.
Snow depth ranges from 100 cm at highway elevations to over 300 cm in the alpine.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy with flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 500 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 900 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with flurries. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 900 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
