Evaluate for wind slabs in steep terrain features in wind-exposed terrain.
Wind slabs that formed from recent southeast to southwest wind may remain triggerable to human activity. Use caution in steep, lee terrain features near ridges.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds with early-morning snowfall, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, 40 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -6 C.
SATURDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 60 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -2 C.
SUNDAY: Early-morning snowfall then partly cloudy, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperature 3 C, freezing level rising to 2400 m.
MONDAY: Cloudy with snow and rain, accumulation 10 to 20 cm above 1500 m and rain below, 60 km/h south wind, treelpine temperature 3 C.
Several wind slab avalanches were triggered naturally, by riders, and explosives on Thursday and Friday. They were generally 30 to 40 cm deep, on north aspects, and at treeline elevations. These slabs may still be triggerable by riders on Saturday. Below 1200 m, small pinwheels were observed out of steep terrain from Thursday night's rain.
We'd appreciate any observations while you are out travelling on the Mountain Information Network.
Wind slabs may still be found in steep, lee terrain features, which formed from recent 30 to 50 cm of snow and strong southeast to southwest wind. The snow surface below about 1200 m consists of a hard melt-freeze crust from recent rain. This overlies 100+ cm of snow that accumulated since January 1, which reports suggest is bonding well to the snowpack.
The middle and base of the snowpack are strong, consisting of well-bonded snow and various hard melt-freeze crusts.
