Assess for slab development before committing to steep terrain features. Watch for wet avalanche activity if the skies clear.
New wind slabs likely formed from the recent 10 to 20 cm of snow and strong southwest wind. Use caution entering lee terrain features below ridges. The snow may have also formed storm slabs in areas sheltered from the wind. Resulting slabs could slide easily, particularly where they rest on a hard melt-freeze crust.
Wet loose avalanches may occur during periods of intense solar input. The primary concern is moistening of the new snow at higher elevations.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with snowfall then clearing, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, 10 to 20 km/h west wind, alpine temperature -8 C.
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, 10 to 20 km/h south wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level rising to 1800 m.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 20 km/h south wind, alpine temperature -3 C, overnight freeze and daytime freezing level rising to 1800 m.
FRIDAY: Cloudy with snowfall then clearing, accumulation 5 cm, 10 km/h west wind, alpine temperature -1 C, overnight freeze and daytime freezing level rising to 2000 m.
We did not receive any reports of avalanche observations in the past few days.
Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network to supplement our data stream and help fellow recreationists.
10 to 20 cm of snow accumulated on Tuesday with strong southwest wind. New wind slabs likely formed in lee terrain features at treeline and alpine elevations. Storm slabs may have formed in areas sheltered from the wind. The slabs may take a bit of time to bond to underlying surfaces, such as a hard melt-freeze crust. A moist, consolidated snowpack exists at low elevations below treeline. Remember that cornices are large and looming at this time of year.
The remainder of the snowpack is strong, consisting of hard snow and various melt-freeze crusts.
