Fresh and reactive wind slabs may form at treeline and above as westerly winds increase on Wednesday.
Start conservative and watch for signs of instability like cracking or whumpfing.
Fresh and reactive wind slabs could form on Wednesday. Especially at ridgeline and in exposed terrain features.Expect sluffing or isolated storm slabs in wind protected areas, like the trees.
Touchy storm slabs up to size 2 were reported on Tuesday. The slabs were 20-30 cm deep and ran on east through south aspects at treeline and above.
Last weekend a natural avalanche cycle occurred, and numerous storm slab avalanches were reported up to size 2.5 in the alpine and treeline.
Forecast light to moderate winds may form reactive wind slabs in exposed terrain features, especially near ridgeline.
If you head out please consider submitting a MIN.
10 to 15 cm of new snow fell on Sunday and Monday. This brings storm snow accumulations around 50 to 60 cm over the past week. Reports specifically from the Lizard Range show a buried layer of graupel down 60 (ish) cm.
In wind-exposed terrain, the new snow has likely have stiffened into a slab and could be reactive to riders.
The bottom of the snowpack has a crust that sits just above the ground. Snowpack depth is 100-180 cm at treeline.
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with clear periods. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with some sunny periods. Trace of new snow. 10 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with isolated flurries 1 to 3 cm. 10 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
Friday
Cloudy with isolated flurries 1 to 3 cm. 10 to 35 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
