Avalanche Forecast

Small (size 1) isolated pockets of wind slabs continue to be triggered by riders in lee terrain features. Wind slabs may linger directly lee of ridges at high elevations.

Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

2 to 5 cm of new snow coupled with moderate to strong southwest winds will build thin wind slabs in lee features at alpine and treeline elevations. A melt-freeze crust can be found at 2100 m and below at variable depths, on the surface on windward slopes, and buried 15 to 20 cm in lees. Wind slabs of variable age may be more reactive where they sit on this crust.

The middle of the snowpack is consolidated. Weak faceted grains exist near the base of the snowpack.

The average snowpack depth is 120 cm and 200 cm in wind-loaded areas.

Friday Night

Mainly cloudy, scattered flurries trace accumulation, 40 to 50 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -6 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation of 2 to 5 cm, 30 to 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -3 °C, freezing level 1500 m.

Mostly cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, 20 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1700 m.

Morning clouds, clearing in the afternoon. Scattered flurries 2 to 3 cm, 20 to 30 km/h southwest winds, treeline temperatures -2 °C, freezing level 1700 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
• Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.