Recent strong southwesterly winds formed wind slabs on lee aspects at treeline and above.
Use high points in the terrain such as ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.
Recent strong southwesterly winds formed wind slabs on lee aspects at treeline and above.
Use high points in the terrain such as ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.
Saturday night: Partly cloudy / Light northwest wind / Low of -11 / Freezing level valley bottom.
Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with convective flurries, 0-3 cm / Light north wind / High of -3 / Freezing level 1100 m.
Monday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light east wind / High of -4 / Freezing level 900 m.
Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light east wind / High of -6 / Freezing level valley bottom.
A couple natural and skier triggered wind slab avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported on northeast to southeast aspects at treeline and above on Friday.
5-15 cm of new snow buries a breakable melt-freeze crust that exists on all aspects to at least 2200 m.
Recent strong southwesterly winds formed wind slabs on lee aspects at treeline and above.
Recent avalanches have been failing on a melt-freeze crust down 60-80 cm. Occasionally, these avalanches have stepped-down to a rain crust formed in early December which resulted in some very large avalanches.
These large events are most likely to occur during periods of warming when freezing levels reach roughly 2500 m or higher.
Cornices are very large and exposure to slopes beneath them should be minimized, especially if the weather is sunny, warm, or windy.
