Lingering wind slabs in open terrain at upper elevations are the main concern.
Recent snow has likely been blown into wind slabs at higher elevations. Carefully assess for wind slabs prior to committing to steep features with high consequence.
Cornices are large and looming along many ridgelines, and have likely grown with the recent snow and wind.
THURSDAY Night: Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries, light to moderate west and northwest wind, freezing level 700 m with treeline temperatures around -5 C.
FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, light west and southwest wind, freezing level 1600 m with treeline temperatures -1 C.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, light to moderate southwest wind, freezing level 1500 m with treeline temperatures -2 C.
SUNDAY: Snow, moderate to strong southwest wind, freezing 1000 m with treeline temperatures around -4 C.
Small avalanches were triggered within recent snow on Tuesday. This was likely the case for Wednesday as well, within the 5-15 cm of overnight snow.
Looking forward, wind slabs may remain triggerable at higher elevations and use caution on sun-exposed slopes if clear skies prevail, which is forecast for the north of the region.
Another 5 to 15 cm of snow on Wednesday adds to the 15 to 30 cm of settled snow from the weekend. All this snow is likely bonding to the snowpack, but there could be some wind slabs that linger at higher elevations from southwest wind. All this snow sits above a widespread hard crust, with the exception of high north-facing terrain. The lower snowpack is strong and settled.
Remember that cornices along ridgelines are large at this time of year and always have the possibility of failing naturally or from the weight of a human.
