Avoid wind loaded terrain near ridge crests where reactive wind slabs are most likely to be found. Wind slabs over a crust will likely be more reactive.
Ongoing south and southwest winds have been building up the wind slab problem on north and east aspects. These slabs could remain reactive longer than usual due to a underlying crust.
We continue to recieve reports of rider triggered wind slabs. Some of which are failing on the underlying crust. Check out this MIN for some good details on the wind slab problem.
As we track a persistent layer deeper in the snowpack, the most recent reports are now over a week old when a couple of large (size 2-3) persistent slab, human-triggered and natural avalanches occurred near ridgetops in north-to-northeast alpine terrain. These avalanches showed an impressive capability to propagate across large distances. Here is a link to the most recent human-triggered size 3 avalanche.
If you are out in the backcountry please share your observations with the Mountain Information Network!
Ongoing southerly winds have redistributed up to 60cm of recent storm snow into wind slabs on northerly aspects and pressed or scoured southerly aspects. Soft snow can still be found in sheltered terrain. The above mentioned storm snow sits over a crust that extends up to 1700m.
Our field team continues to track a persistent layer of surface hoar and/or facets 50-100 cm deep, found on north and east aspects in the alpine and upper treeline. This layer has not produced any recent avalanches in the region and producing more stubborn results or non-results in snowpack tests recently.
Sunday Night
Cloudy with a Few centimeters of new snow expected. Light southwest winds and a low of -8 at 1500m.Monday
Monday
Mostly cloudy with up to 5cm of new snow expected. Light southwest winds and temperatures at 1500m falling to -10.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Moderate southwest winds and a high of -11 at 1500m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with up to 10cm of new snow expected. Moderate southwest winds and a high of -5 at 1500m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
