Strong wind will likely build reactive wind slabs.
Rider and remote triggering of large avalanches are an ongoing concern. Choose conservative, low consequence terrain.
Ongoing snowfall and southerly wind have formed wind slab on northerly aspects and cross loaded others.
These avalanches have the potential to step down to deeper layers if triggered.
A weak layer of facets rests above a hard-melt freeze crust that formed early February. This layer remains in the depth for human triggering.
On Tuesday, a few natural wind slabs on north facing slopes and persistent slabs on south facing slopes up to size 1.5 were reported. Numerous explosive controlled persistent slab avalanches up to size 3 were triggered on northerly aspects at treeline and above.
We expect wind and persistent slabs to be rider triggerable. Avoid solar slopes when the sun is out.
A melt-freeze crust may exist on the surface up to 1400 m and higher on steep south facing slopes.
At treeline and above, the recent storm snow is being redistributed by ongoing southerly winds, leaving widespread wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain and wind slabs on leeward terrain.
A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 50 to 110 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it in many areas.
The eastern portion of this region is much shallower with a highly variable and wind-affected snowpack.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries 5-10 cm. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5°C. Freezing levels 1200 m.
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries 5-10 cm. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures near -1°C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. 40 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures near above zero degrees. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.
Saturday
Sunny. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures above zero degrees. Freezing level rising to 3000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
