Use caution in recently wind-loaded terrain.
Even short periods of sun could increase the reactivity of wind slabs and cornices.
Reactive wind slabs persist at higher elevations following recent snow and strong southwesterly winds. Avalanches have the potential to run surprisingly far due to the underlying crust.
Cornices are large and overhanging, give these hazards a wide berth and reduce your time travelling under them.
A falling cornice has the potential to trigger a large avalanche on the slope below.
Since Wednesday, several storm and wind slab avalanches up to size 2.5 have been observed. These avalanches have been triggered naturally, by explosives, and by skiers. Avalanches were predominantly triggered on north and east aspects at treeline and above. The atmospheric river crust has been the failure plane for almost all of them.
Recent strong southwest wind has redistributed snow into deeper deposits on the north and east aspects. Exposed windward features are scoured at treeline and above.
The thick crust that formed as a result of the recent atmospheric river event is found down 40 to 80 cm. This crust extends up to at least 2300 m. Moist snow may be found beneath this crust, particularly at lower elevations.
Weak layers from February can be found down 150 cm and deeper. These layers remain a concern at high elevations where the crust from the atmospheric river might not exist.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
