Seek out sheltered terrain where you can avoid wind slabs. Wind slab may even be found below treeline due to outflow winds.
New wind slabs may be found on all aspects.
Near Stewart and Ningunsaw, wind slabs could fail on a buried crust, up to 100 cm deep. This is most likely in alpine areas with a shallow snowpack in wind-affected terrain; like south slopes.
Rider triggered wind slabs continue to be reported in the region. Check out this MIN and this one.
Cornices have failed naturally in the alpine. Cornices may have been undermined by the atypical winds.
On Thursday, very large (size 3) slab avalanches were observed near Ningunsaw on south and west-facing slopes. These avalanches may be failing on the deeper weak layer described in the snowpack summary..
New wind slab will likely form throughout Wednesday night. Variable winds mean that wind slab could be found on all aspects. These new slabs will overlie facets.
In sheltered areas, about 20 to 40 cm of recent snow overlies a layer of surface hoar and a crust below 1700 m.
Near Stewart and Ningunsaw, a poorly-bonded crust about 100 cm deep may act as a weak layer.
Elsewhere, the remainder of the snowpack is reportedly strong with various hard crusts.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of new snow expected, west alpine wind 25 to 40 km/h and outflow winds at valley bottom 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -8°C.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud with a few centimeters of new snow possible, east alpine wind 20 to 30 km/h and outflow wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -8°C.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny with trace amounts of new snow expected, northeast alpine wind 35 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature falling to -15°C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud with up to 2 cm of new snow expected, east alpine wind 25 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -15°C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
