Avalanche Forecast
Regions: White Pass East, White Pass West.
Wind slabs will remain reactive in isolated higher elevation wind-affected features, like ridgelines and gully features.
Extreme cold conditions will sweep across the region starting Friday.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No reports of recent avalanche activity. Although it is likely natural wind slab activity continues at higher elevations until the snow and winds taper by Friday morning.
Snowpack Summary
Recent strong to extreme southwest winds have redistributed the new snow. Scouring ridges and highpoints at upper elevations, while creating deep, loaded pockets on northerly terrain, up to 150 cm.
A crust exists down about 20cm at treeline. The mid and lower snowpack is generally facetted and well-settled.
Treeline snow depth range from 60 to 90 cm.
Weather Summary
Thursday night
Cloudy with snow. Around 5 cm. Moderate southwest winds and temperatures cooling 0 to -15 C in the alpine.
Friday
Some flurries in the morning as cold air sweeps across the region. Alpine winds will shift to northwest in the moderate to strong range. Temperatures drop to -20 C with a significant wind chill.
Saturday and Sunday
Mainly clear skies. Alpine temperatures in the -25 to -30 C range, with moderate northeast winds. Wind chill values near -45 C over the weekend.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
- Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
- Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent southwest winds have formed windslabs throughout higher elevation, wind exposed terrain. Despite the mild temperatures and slightly calmer winds, wind slabs may remain reactive going into the weekend.
Going forward watch for wind slab development on southerly terrain as winds shift and temperatures plummet.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2