Triggering avalanches is most likely in steep terrain at higher elevations where new snow and wind is forming unstable slabs.
Moderate amounts of new snow and strong wind will form unstable slabs in steep terrain at higher elevations, especially around ridges and convex rolls.
FRIDAY NIGHT: 5-15 cm of snow overnight, 40-60 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine temperatures around -3 C.
SATURDAY: Scattered flurries bring another 5-20 cm of snow above 1000 m, 40-70 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -3 C.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 20-30 km/h wind from the south, alpine high temperatures around -5 C.
MONDAY: Next frontal system arrives bringing 5-15 cm of snow by the afternoon, 50-80 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -3 C.
No recent avalanches have been reported.
10-30 cm of new snow and strong wind could form reactive slabs at upper elevations on Saturday. Currently, sheltered terrain has 20-30 cm of low density snow while exposed terrain has been affected by recent wind from the south and southwest. Reports suggest there are two buried layers of surface hoar in the upper snowpack, both 25-50 cm below the surface. In windward terrain the snow may be scoured down to a hard crust from November. In leeward terrain, this crust is 40-80 cm deep. Older crusts can be found deeper in the snowpack and are generally breaking down. In areas with a relatively thin snowpack, the base of the snowpack likely consists of weak faceted grains.
