Uncertainty remains around the impact of warming temperatures on Sunday.
Seek out slopes that haven't been impacted by wind or warming temperatures.
Lingering pockets of wind slabs exist in lee and cross-loaded features. While they are generally becoming less reactive, there is some uncertainty about the impact of warming temperatures on Sunday.
Since the last storm earlier this week, there have been some reports of natural avalanches (size 1 to 2) on alpine features. Off Horstman Glacier, a small slab was naturally triggered on a northeast alpine slope.
There are limited reports and observations from this region. If you head into the backcountry this weekend, please submit a MIN report!
New snow (5 cm) has covered the lingering wind slabs formed with the latest storm snow (40 cm+) and strong winds. Sheltered areas continue to hold unconsolidated snow that is faceting due to cold temperatures. Recent snow sits on a variety of wind-affected surfaces. Notably, stubborn wind slabs overlie a crust found 70 cm deep up to 2200 meters. Faceting has been observed between the wind slab and the crust. Professionals are concerned about the possibility of wind slabs fracturing at this deeper interface.
The snowpack sits around 70 to 120 cm at the treeline and up to 180 cm in the alpine. Much of the below treeline elevation band is below the threshold for avalanches.
An arctic ridge of high pressure will become the main attraction for the next few days. Inverted temperatures are due to the above-freezing layer. Sunny and dry conditions will last up to Tuesday night.
Saturday Night
Clear sky. No precipitation. Moderate northeast ridge wind. Low of 0 C at treeline. Freezing level rise to 2000 m. Strong alpine temperature inversion.
Sunday
Mainly sunny. No precipitation. Light easterly ridge winds. High of -5 C at treeline and 0C in the alpine. Freezing level around 1000 m. Alpine temperature inversion.
Monday
Increasing cloudiness in the afternoon. No precipitation. Light northerly ridge winds. High -5 C. Freezing level around 800 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy. Isolated flurries. Light westerly ridge winds. High -8 C. Freezing level around at valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
