Heightened avalanche conditions exist on specific terrain features as wind will increase.
The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
Forecasted winds will likely transport the recent snow to develop wind slabs. These will be increasingly reactive and located on the immediate lee of features. Rider-triggerable avalanches will be possible, especially on steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
Tuesday, a skier accidentally triggered a storm slab/wind slab from a north-facing alpine slope on Face Mountain. Monday, solar-triggered loose wet avalanches were observed out of steep south aspects. Over the past weekend, loose dry avalanches were numerous, naturally and skier-triggered (up to size 2). Small wind slabs (size 1) were reported, triggered by sun, skiers, and loose dry avalanches from above.
Surfaces are variable according to aspects and elevations. On solar aspects and low elevations, a moist or crusty surface exists. At upper elevations, shady wind-sheltered areas hold dry, low-density snow. The most recent storm from last week left 15-20 cm of snow which sits over various surfaces including melt-freeze crust. Low elevations are melting out rapidly.
A weak layer of sugary facets is still prominent at the base of the snowpack. Although we haven't seen avalanche activity on it for some time, it could reactivate with sudden changes like prolonged or intense warming shocking the snowpack. Large loads like cornice falls are likely to trigger this layer, but human triggering may be possible in rocky, shallow, or thin-to-thick snowpack areas.
Warm and windy conditions will continue to impact the region as a frontal system is moving into the south coast ranges.
Wednesday night
Cloudy with clear periods. Light southwest wind increasing to moderate. Alpine low of -7 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Thursday
Cloudy. Isolated flurries up to 5 cm. Strong south wind gusting 50 km/h. Alpine high -3 °C. Freezing level rises to 1700 m.
Friday
Cloudy. Isolated flurries up to 5 cm. Strong southwest wind gusting 60 km/h Alpine high -3 °C. Freezing level rises to 1800 m.
Saturday
Cloudy. Isolated flurries. Strong southwest wind gusting 60 km/h Alpine high -5 °C. Freezing level rises to 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
