Forecast confidence is low due to a lack of field observations. New and reactive wind slabs should be expected in higher elevation terrain.
Wind slabs are expected to form as light snowfall continues with elevated west and/or southwest wind. Increase your caution in exposed terrain, particularly in lee slopes near ridges.
Tuesday night: Cloudy with continuing isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds.
Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries and a further trace of new snow. Light to moderate west winds. Alpine high temperatures around -7.
Thursday: Sunny. Light to moderate southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -6.
Friday: Mainly cloudy. Light to moderate southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5.
No new avalanches were observed from limited reports on Monday and Tuesday.
Looking forward, wind slab activity may increase as continuing snowfall and elevated winds form fresh slabs.
Continuing light snowfall and elevated southwest wind are expected to form new wind slabs in exposed terrain. The new snow will sit on a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes or on previously wind-affected snow, so new slabs may take some time to bond to the snowpack.
A layer of faceted grains overly a melt-freeze crust from early February. This layer currently sits 30 to 60 cm below the surface. This layer remains dormant and has not produced a reported avalanche for about a week.
The base of the snowpack may contain a weak layer of faceted grains that are most prominent in shallow rocky start zones with a snowpack depth of 150 cm or less.
