Avoid wind loaded features near ridge crests and steep roll overs.
Avoid shallow, rocky snowpack areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin and triggering the deep persistent weak layer is still possible.
Strong southwesterly winds are forming new wind slabs on lee slopes in the alpine and at treeline. Avoid steep, rocky wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
A layer of large and weak facets sits near the base of the snowpack. This layer is most likely to be problematic in steep, unsupported, wind-loaded terrain or by first triggering a layer in the upper snowpack. Evidence suggests this layer may be more problematic in the Hurley and Birkenhead areas.
On Thursday a size 1.5 natural wind slab avalanche was reported. This avalanche ran on a east aspect in the alpine.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Strong southwest winds continue redistributing snow into fresh wind slabs in alpine and treeline terrain. In the alpine fresh wind slabs cover scoured northerly aspects. In sheltered areas, 10 to 20 cm of soft snow can be found. A surface crust can be found below 1800 m and at all elevations on steep solar aspects.
In the midpack, a weak layer can be found 50 to 100 cm deep, as a decomposing crust, or in many places, it's more of a soft and weak section of the snowpack. There is a widespread weak layer of facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack.
Generally, the snowpack in this region is weak and shallow. Snowpack depths around treeline are highly variable and range between 150 to 250 cm.
Friday Night
Stormy with 5 to 10cm of new snow expected. Strong southwest winds and a low of -5 at 1700m.
Saturday
Stormy with 5 to 10cm of new snow expected at higher elevation. Moderate to strong south winds and freezing levels rising to 1500m.
Sunday
Cloudy with around 5cm of new snow expected at higher elevation. Light to moderate southwest winds and freezing levels around 1500m.
Monday
Stormy with 5 to 10cm of new snow expected at higher elevations. Strong to extreme southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1600m.
Sunday1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
