Expect to find pockets of wind slab as you venture higher into the alpine. Human triggered avalanches are still possible and can be large in size in isolated areas with our current danger rating. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
Weather Forecast
Today will be mainly cloudy with isolated flurries with light variable winds. The alpine high will be -7 with a freezing level rising to 1200m. A forecasted 10-15cm of snow arrives over the weekend and will bring gradually cooling temperatures and light winds.
Snowpack Summary
~35cm of settling storm snow now buries a facet layer. Height of snow at 1900m is 322cm. Recent moderate to strong southerly winds formed pockets of wind slab in the alpine and tree line areas. A crust is down 30-50cm on solar aspects and the mid January persistent weak layers are buried 150-200cm.
Avalanche Summary
A size 1.5-2.0 skier accidental was reported yesterday in a cross loaded feature, below the cliffs lookers right of Video Peak (Bear Teeth). Slab depth was 30-50cm and likely failed on the Feb 20 facet layer. The skier went for a small ride, no injuries but lost a pole. No new natural avalanches observed along the highway corridor yesterday.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.