Strong westerly winds are expected to form fresh, reactive wind slabs. Watch for deposition near ridgelines and also in midslope features, further downslope than typical.
Strong westerly winds are likely to have formed fresh and reactive slabs on north and east facing slopes. Slabs may sit over new weak layers of facets, or surface hoar.
On Thursday a size 3 avalanche in extreme, unskiable terrain was reported but details are limited. Since then small loose dry and wind slab avalanches have been reported, to size 1.5.
If you are heading into the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations or photos via the Mountain Information Network.
Strong westerly winds have likely redistributed recent snow into deeper deposits on north and east facing slopes at higher elevations.
A prominent crust, formed in mid-December, is now buried 60 to 100 cm deep. This crust extends up to 2200 m. Several weak layers exist in the lower snowpack, however concern only exists for at higher elevation terrain where the mid December crust does not exist above. Triggering is considered generally unlikely, except by large loads.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
