Best to give the snowpack a bit more time to stabilize before committing to consequential terrain.
The most recent 20 to 30 cm of storm snow is starting to bond to the snowpack but may require another day. Use caution entering steep terrain features and assess for signs of instability. Slabs may be deeper and toucher on northerly features at high elevations.
Recent storm snow was reactive to human traffic during Tuesday's stormy weather (e.g., as seen here). We also suspect that a natural avalanche cycle may have occurred out of very steep terrain features.
Looking to Thursday, it may remain possible for riders to trigger storm slab avalanches. Best to give the snowpack a bit of time to settle and bond. Avoiding cornice exposure is also a good idea, as they are very large and looming at this time of year.
20 to 30 cm of snow from Wednesday is likely starting to bond to the 100 cm of snow that accumulated since the weekend. The storm fell with strong southerly wind, meaning deeper and toucher slabs may be found in lee terrain features in alpine terrain. Reports suggest there are no deeper concerns and that the remainder of the snowpack is well-bonded.
Cornices are large and looming at this time of year.
Wednesday Night
Clear skies with no precipitation, 10 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1000 m.
Thursday
Cloudy skies with afternoon snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 40 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1000 m.
FridayCloudy with snowfall, accumulation 15 to 20 cm, 20 to 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1000 m.
SaturdayCloudy with snow switching to rain, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperature 3 °C, freezing level 1900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
