Use caution around ridge crests and steep rollovers, where wind slabs are most likely to form.
Expect sun-exposed slopes to deteriorate, and avoid steep terrain if snow becomes moist.
Recent wind from various directions has formed isolated wind slabs over various hard surfaces of wind-pressed snow and/or a crust.
The sun can pack a punch! Use caution on slopes facing the sun and back off if the snow becomes moist and/or wet and weakens. Pinwheels and natural avalanches are your initial signs of instability.
A faceted lower snowpack presents a persistent slab problem. This basal layer may be triggered by cornice fall or the weight of a rider in shallow snowpack areas or on steep features where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
No new avalanches have been reported.
In the alpine, up to 15 cm of dry, wintery snow sits above a variety of old snow surfaces. A buried surface hoar layer may remain intact on sheltered northerly terrain and hard wind-pressed surfaces, wind slab, and sastrugi exist on exposed slopes. A melt-freeze crust can be found from 1200 to 1500 m on all aspects but north. This will be firm in the am and may soften by the afternoon.
The lower snowpack is faceted and generally weak, particularly in shallow areas.
Friday Night
Clear skies. 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Saturday
Sunny. 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
