Trouble picking out reactive wind slabs from old wind effect? Seek sheltered snow for better/safer riding and lower slope angles where protected powder is in short supply.
Outflow wind has impacted open terrain on all aspects at treeline and alpine elevations. The resulting wind slabs are bonding poorly to the underlying crust.
The last reported avalanches in this region were small loose avalanches on Tuesday.
Avalanche activity in adjacent regions has lately seen an uptick as wind slabs have formed over weak grains like surface hoar and facets sitting on the early February crust. Given the similar upper snowpack structure in this region, wind loaded features should be treated with high suspicion here as well.
Wind and sun have created variable surface conditions. Outflow wind has heavily impacted open terrain, including lower elevations where snow coverage exists.
A widespread crust exists 25-40 cm below the surface, and surface hoar has been found above the crust in some parts of the region - a dangerous combination anywhere wind slab exists above it. The snowpack is strong and bonded below the crust.
Conditions remain rugged at lower elevations.
Saturday night
Increasing cloud. South or southeast alpine winds 10 - 20 km/h, easing. Freezing level around 1000 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing less than 5 cm of new snow. Southwest alpine winds 5 - 10 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C with freezing level around 1300 m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, minimal rain below about 1600 m. South or southeast alpine winds 5 - 10 km/h. Treeline temperature +1 °C with freezing level around 1700 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, minimal rain below about 1500 m. Southwest alpine winds 10 - 15 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C with freezing level around 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
