Seek out sheltered terrain that hasn't been impacted by wind or warming temperatures.
Lingering wind slabs exist on a variety of aspects. While they are generally becoming less reactive, there is some uncertainty about the impact of warming temperatures on Sunday.
Being cautious in steep wind-affected terrain is recommended, especially if the surface becomes moist or wet.
No significant avalanches were reported on Thursday or Friday. On Wednesday, a natural wind slab cycle to size 2.5 was observed across the region. These avalanches occurred on northwest, west, and southwest aspects at treeline and above. These avalanches are a result of ongoing outflow winds.
Over the past few days strong outflow winds have scoured easterly slopes, created hard slabs on west and south slopes, and cross-loaded others.
A layer buried that formed in mid-November can be found down 70 to 100 cm at treeline and above. This layer consists of a crust below 1200 m and a layer of surface hoar above this elevation. This layer has not shown recent signs of instability.
The depth of the snowpack at treeline varies widely from 100 to 200 cm and tapers rapidly below treeline. Many early-season hazards such as rocks, stumps, and open creeks exist below treeline.
Saturday Night
Clear skies, no precipitation, strong outflow winds continue in inlets with alpine winds light from the northeast, treeline temperatures warm to -2 °C.
Sunday
Sunny, no precipitation, 20 to 30 km/h wind in the alpine from the northeast, above freezing temperatures between 1000 and 2000 m potentially reaching +4 °C.
MondaySunny, no precipitation, 20 to 30 km/h wind in the alpine from the north, above freezing temperatures between 1200 and 2000 m potentially reaching +1 °C.
TuesdayCloudy with isolated flurries bringing trace amounts of snow, 40 to 60 km/h wind from the northwest, treeline temperatures around -5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
