Use caution near ridge crests and around steep terrain features. Fresh wind slabs may be reactive to human triggers. A thin snowpack has yet to cover early-season hazards.
The latest round of snow has arrived with strong wind, developing reactive pockets of wind slabs. Human-triggered avalanches are possible on immediate lee and on cross-loaded terrain features.
No new avalanches have been reported in our area lately, and there have been few people reporting observations. If you're heading out to the backcountry, please check for current conditions on the MIN or consider posting after your day. It helps strengthen our information gathering.
On Friday, approximately 10 cm of snow fell. In specific areas on the North Shore treeline, a weak layer of surface hoar (2-10 mm) has been buried by this new snow. Earlier this week, the region received about 40 cm of light snow, which also buries another surface hoar layer (2-5 mm). The latest winds have left alpine and treeline slopes with pockets of heavily deposited snow or wind-affected snow. Further down in the snowpack, there are reports of a melt-freeze crust. At around 1000 m the snowpack reaches a depth of around 70 cm. Lower treeline and below treeline elevation are still below the threshold for avalanches.
An upper ridge of high pressure over the Gulf of Alaska ushers in clear skies and surprisingly moderate temperatures for the weekend. An above-freezing layer may develop from late Saturday afternoon and on.
Friday Night
Light snow up to 5 cm. Southeast ridge wind up to 50 km/h. Low of -3C at treeline. Freezing level around 500 m.
Saturday
Snow ending in morning. Clearing sky. Easterly ridge wind up to 35 km/h. High of +2C at treeline. Freezing level rising to 1500 m. Possible temperature inversion.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. Clear sky. Variable light wind. High of+ 3 C at treeline. Freezing level rising to 2000 m. Possible temperature inversion.
Monday
Sunny. No precipitation. Variable light wind. High of 0 C at treeline. Freezing level lowering to the valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
