Up to 35 cm new snow by the end of the day on Friday with strong southwest wind will form reactive storm slabs and wind slabs. The avalanche danger will increase throughout the day. A good day to make conservative terrain choices!
Up to 15 cm overnight and another 10 to 20 cm during the day on Friday will form reactive storm slabs. Strong southwest wind will redistribute the new snow and develop wind slabs in lee terrain features in the alpine and at treeline.
The wind will contribute to cornice growth.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy, up to 15 cm new snow, 60 km/h southwest wind, alpine low -8 C.
FRIDAY: Cloudy, 10 to 20 cm new snow, 50 km/h southwest wind, alpine high -5 C.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy, 10 to 20 cm new snow, 50 km/h south wind, alpine high +2 C, freezing level rising to 1600 m.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy, 10 to 15 cm new snow, 30 km/h south wind, alpine high -4 C, freezing level 1100 m.
No new avalanches were observed on Thursday at the time of writing. Looking ahead, newly formed storm slabs and wind slabs will be the primary concern on Friday.
The storm will bring up to 35 cm new snow with strong southwest wind on Friday. The new snow may overly widespread wind affect at alpine elevations, feathery surface hoar on northerly aspects and in sheltered terrain features around treeline, or a melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects and below treeline.
There are presently no widespread deeper concerns. However, faceted snow at the base of the snowpack exists in much of the region and always has the potential of being triggered in shallow, rocky slopes.
