Normal cautions should be sufficient to manage lingering wind slabs in steep terrain near ridgetops. A return to winter is coming this weekend.
Older wind slabs across a range of aspects have mostly stabilized. In isolated steep terrain, some slabs formed over weak snow grains sitting on hard crust may still react to a human trigger.
No new avalanches have been reported in the past few days. Operators in the Hope area noted small sluffing of new snow from steep terrain on Wednesday, confined to areas where smooth snow coverage exists.
Light, windblown new snow amounts have begun to accumulate over a variety of surfaces including large surface hoar in sheltered terrain, a crust on south aspects and on all aspects below treeline, and old wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain.
A widespread crust exists 25-40 cm below the surface with up to 5 cm of weak, faceted snow immediately above it. Surface hoar was previously found above the crust in some parts of the region. Old, likely stubborn wind slabs formed over this problematic layering are a lingering concern.
The remainder of the snowpack is well settled. Conditions remain rugged at lower elevations.
Thursday night
Cloudy with isolated wet flurries at higher elevations, light rain below about 1400 m. 10 to 15 km/h southwest alpine wind. Freezing level remaining near 1400 m.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h southwest alpine wind, increasing. Treeline temperature around 0 °C with freezing level to 1600 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with flurries bringing 5-10 cm of new snow, including overnight amounts. 35-40 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -3 C with freezing level to 1300 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with moderate to heavy snowfall bringing 20-30 cm of new snow, including overnight amounts. 60 - 75 km/h southwest alpine winds, increasing. Treeline temperature -3 °C with freezing level to 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
