Moderate to strong winds are building fresh wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above.
Confidence
Moderate - Wind speed and direction is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Friday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light northeasterly winds / Average temperature at treeline -20 C.Saturday: Mostly sunny / Light southwesterly winds / Average temperature at treeline -20 C.Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light northwesterly winds / Average temperature at treeline -14 C.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, no new avalanches were reported in this region.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 30 cm of low density storm snow from the weekend is being redistributed into soft slabs in wind exposed terrain. The new snow is sitting on top of a mixture of surface hoar and weak surface facets which means the storm snow could become reactive when it settles into a slab. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. Reports suggest typical treeline snow depths are around 120-170 cm, but a report from the east side of region indicated a much lower snow depth of around 90 cm. Limited reports suggest the snow is well bonded to the crusts buried in mid and early November which are down 50-80 cm and 80-110 cm, respectively.
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.