North Rockies

Isolated wind slabs exist on exposed north and east facing slopes in the alpine. Evaluate wind-affected terrain carefully as human-triggered wind slab avalanches are possible.

On Wednesday natural loose wet avalanche activity was reported up to size one on solar aspects at all elevations.

A cornice failure was reported but did not trigger the slope below.

If you are getting out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network).

Up to 35 cm of storm snow covers the surface at higher elevations. As winds pick up the new snow will be redistributed by primarily southwest wind into lee terrain features at alpine and treeline. The new snow sits atop a hard crust on all aspects to at least 1600 m. Below the crust, the snowpack is generally settled and well-bonded.

Below 1300 m surfaces are moist and the snowpack is rapidly disappearing.

Wednesday Night

Mainly cloudy. Ridgetop wind southwest 20 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow at upper elevations. Ridgetop wind southwest 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Friday

Partly cloudy with 0 to 4 cm of snow at upper elevations. Ridgetop wind southwest 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Saturday

Partly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow at upper elevations. Ridgetop wind west 20 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 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.
• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.