Stormy conditions return to the region, which will form new slabs in wind-exposed terrain over the day.
New wind slabs will form as stormy conditions impact the region on Saturday. These slabs will overly previously formed wind slabs from varying wind directions, meaning human-triggering is possible on all aspects in wind-exposed terrain.
No new avalanches were observed on Thursday. Earlier in the week there was evidence of deep persistent slab activity that likely occurred during stormy conditions. Riders should continue to avoid steep, thin, rocky slopes, particularly near alpine ridgelines.
Looking forward, we anticipate that new wind slabs will form over the day on Saturday, which could be human triggered.
New snow on Saturday will fall with strong southwest wind, forming new wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The snow will overly wind slabs that formed between Tuesday and Friday from strong northeast wind. This means that wind slabs may be found on all aspects.
The middle of the snowpack is generally strong.
A weak layer of large and weak facets is found near the base of the snowpack. The layer is currently dormant, except perhaps in very steep alpine terrain that is inherently shallow. Riders should continue to avoid thin, rocky terrain where the likelihood of triggering this layer is increased.
Friday Night
Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, 40 km/h west wind, treeline temperature - 20 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm with local enhancement possible, 40 to 50 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -14 °C.
SundayCloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, 20 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature -14 °C.
MondayCloudy with snowfall, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, 20 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -15 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
