Thursday's weather kicks the snowfall and winds up a notch. Choosing sheltered lower elevations should help manage the increasing wind slab problem.
Increasing flurries and elevated winds mean new, reactive wind slabs will continue forming in exposed terrain. Thursday's forecast strong winds may form slabs farther down slope than usual.
No new avalanches have been reported in the region, however observations have been limited.
Please share your own observations through the Mountain Information Network.
Steady light snowfall and southeasterly wind has likely formed deeper deposits on north through west aspects and scoured or pressed south and east facing slopes.
By end of day Thursday, another 10 - 15 cm should add to 10 to 30 cm of recent snow sitting above a firm, supportive crust that extends up to 1500 m. A recent MIN report describes well-preserved surface hoar sitting on this crust in the Powder Valley. This setup is worth investigating throughout the region as slabs that form over this grain could be surprisingly touchy.
The remainder of the snowpack has no layers of concern. Snowpack depths range from about 70 to 180 cm.
Wednesday night
Cloudy with flurries bringing 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 30 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with increasing flurries bringing 5 to 15 cm of new snow, continuing overnight. 50 to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind becoming southwest. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with a trace of new snow. 15 to 25 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
