Avalanche Forecast

A combination of transportable snow, elevated winds, and weak grains sitting on the hard early February crust has led to a steady stream of small (size 1 to 1.5) and a few large (size 2) wind slab avalanche reports over the past few days. Natural avalanches have triggered on leeward slopes by wind transport but human-triggered avalanches have occurred on a range of aspects. Slabs have been averaging 20 - 30 cm thick, with some failing on buried surface hoar.

Sun and wind have created variable surface conditions. Exposed terrain is scoured by northeast wind has formed wind slabs on south and west facing slopes.

Roughly 30 cm of snow sits above large surface hoar and/or faceted crystals at treeline and above. This is most problematic in places where wind slabs have formed over it. A widespread, supportive crust exists 30 to 40 cm below the surface. It is an excellent bed surface for slabs run on.

The snowpack well bonded and strong below this crust.

Saturday night

Cloudy. Southeast alpine winds 10 - 20 km/h, easing. Freezing level remaining near 1700 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with isolated wet flurries, light rain as high as 1300 m. Southeast alpine winds 5-10 km/h. Treeline temperature -2 °C with freezing level around 1400 m.

Monday

Cloudy with isolated wet flurries, light rain as high as 1500 m. Southeast or east alpine wind 10 - 15 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C with freezing level around 1600 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with isolated wet flurries, light rain as high as 1400 m. South alpine wind 5-10 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C with freezing level around 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
• Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.