Keep your guard up as you approach avalanche terrain, recent snow has formed unstable slabs on certain terrain features.
Accumulations of new snow over the past week have already formed reactive slabs in wind affected terrain, and is potentially settling into storm slabs in sheltered terrain as well.
SATURDAY NIGHT: A weak front crosses the region with 5-10 cm of new snow, moderate wind from the northwest, alpine temperatures drop to -10 C.
SUNDAY: A few sunny breaks and light flurries with a trace amounts of new snow, moderate wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.
MONDAY: Scattered flurries with another 5-10 cm of new snow, light wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.
Storm slab, wind slab, and dry loose avalanches continue to be reported with steady amounts of new snow and wind. On Friday, a natural cycle of size 1-2 avalanches occurred on all aspects. Numerous human triggered slabs were also reported, including small (size 1) storm slabs triggered by ski cutting at lower elevations and some larger (size 2) wind slabs triggered at higher elevations. This MIN report from Clemina has a good photo of a snowmobile triggered wind slab. With a bit more snow and wind in the forecast, expect wind slabs to continue to be reactive at upper elevations and watch for slab development in steep terrain at all elevations.
40-80 cm of snow has fallen over the past week. The top 20-40 cm has formed a reactive storm slab in many areas and thicker wind slabs have formed at higher elevations. In some areas this new snow may sit above small surface hoar (in open terrain at treeline), sun crusts (in open south-facing terrain), or a thick rain crust (below 1800 m). Overall there is some uncertainty about where and when recent storm snow is developing into reactive slabs. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and strong.
