Fresh, reactive wind slabs are expected to form as northerly winds invade the region.
Wind and cold temperatures mean cold exposure is a major concern. Read more in this blog.
Strong northerly winds may form fresh, reactive wind slabs throughout the day.
Older wind slabs may exist on a variety of aspects and a layer of buried surface hoar may continuing to make these slabs reactive to human triggering.
Fresh wind slab development at all elevations will be the main concern on Wednesday.
Last Saturday, a size 2 avalanche was triggered remotely on a southeast-facing slope on a steep, wind-loaded feature just above treeline. Skiers in this area also reported whumpfing. These may have failed on the buried surface hoar detailed in the Snowpack Summary. Several other size 1 and 2 wind slab avalanches were also reported on both north- and south-facing slopes in exposed areas.
Strong northerly winds are expected to form hard surfaces and redistribute 10 to 20 cm of soft snow into wind slabs in exposed areas.
A layer of buried surface hoar that formed on Christmas Eve may be buried about 50 cm deep.
The lower snowpack is generally strong.
Snowpack depths range from 80 to 200 cm across the region and vary locally from wind distribution.
Tuesday Night
Clearing, no new snow. Northerly winds, increasing 40 to 60 km/h. Treeline temperatures drop below -20 ºC.
Wednesday
Mainly sunny with no new snow. Northerly winds 40 to 70 km/h. Treeline temperature around -25 ºC.
Thursday
Sunny with no new snow. Northerly winds, 30 to 60 km/h. Treeline temperature around -30 ºC.
Friday
Sunny with no new snow. Alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h from the northwest. Treeline temperature around -30 ºC.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
