Look for changing conditions and signs of instability as you move through the mountains.
Slab size and sensitivity could increase throughout the day.
New snow and southerly wind has likely formed wind slab near ridge crests. These slabs will be most reactive where they overlie surface hoar or a crust.
As new snow accumulates above this crust layer slab properties could increase, as this happens the size and sensitivity of avalanches on this layer will also increase.
Only small dry loose avalanches in steep terrain have been reported in the past couple days.
We expect wind slab avalanches to be rider triggerable in areas that receive more than 10 cm on Friday.
Up to 10 cm of new snow could accumulate throughout Friday. This will add to the 5 to 15 cm that has buried a variety of surfaces including surface hoar and facets in sheltered terrain, a crust on south and west facing slopes as well as old wind slab on exposed terrain.
The widespread crust buried in early February is near the surface on exposed alpine terrain and down up to 45 cm elsewhere. In many areas this crust has a layer of facets above.
Thursday Night
Clear skies. 15 to 35 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -4°C.
Friday
Cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow. 40 to 70 km/h west alpine wind. Treeline temperature -4°C.
Saturday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of new snow. 30 to 60 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -7°C.
Sunday
Cloudy with up to 25 cm of new snow. 30 to 60 km/h northwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -6°C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
