South Rockies

Stormy weather may form new wind slabs at higher elevations. Assess conditions before entering steep, lee terrain.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Moderate

• We are uncertain due to the track and intensity of the incoming weather system.
• We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.

We haven't received reports of recent avalanches.

Looking forward, riders could trigger new wind slabs at higher elevations. Use caution entering steep wind-loaded terrain.

Please consider submitting a MIN to let us know what you're seeing out there.

Below 1600 m, rain falls on an already wet snowpack. Above 1600 m, about 10 to 20 cm of snow will accumulate and be blown around with strong wind. This snow may form wind slabs in lee terrain features near ridgetop, which may not bond well to an underlying crust.

A weak layer of facets above a hard crust is buried 50 to 70 cm deep. This layer hasn't produced avalanches since last week's warm weather.

Facets exist at the base of the snowpack in shallow areas.

The snowpack continues to melt at lower elevations.

Tuesday Night
Cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Wednesday
Cloudy. 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Thursday
Cloudy. 15 cm of snow. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.