Wind slabs are the primary concern. Watch for soft pockets of fresh wind slab in leeward terrain features at upper elevations.
Soft pockets of recently formed wind slabs may be reactive to riders in leeward terrain features at upper elevations. They may slide especially easily where they sit over a crust.
Multiple weak layers are present between roughly 100 and 180 cm deep. If the recent storm cycle didn't wipe them out, we at least expect them to be effectively bridged under current conditions, especially at low elevations.
During the storm on the weekend, a widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred, size 2-3. These included storm slabs on all aspects and elevations, loose wet treeline and below, and persistent slabs on mostly on north to east aspects at alpine and treeline elevations.
Since then, avalanche activity has been predominantly wind slabs, size 1-2, triggered naturally and by ski cuts on north to east aspects at alpine and treeline elevations.
10-30 cm of snow continues to accumulate with light wind effect. It sits over firmly wind-sculpted surfaces or a crust which extends up to 1900 m near Highway 1 and 2100 m in the Valhallas. Below, the upper snowpack may be moist at all elevations.
Three formerly problematic layers of surface hoar, facets and/ or crust formed in January and February exist in the mid-snowpack, 1-2 m deep. If the recent storm cycle didn't wipe them out, we at least expect them to be effectively bridged under current conditions, especially at low elevations where the near-surface crust is thickest and most supportive.
The remainder of the snowpack is well settled and strong.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 25 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
