Reactive wind slabs at treeline and in the alpine may exist on all aspects due to changing winds.
Changing winds and light snowfall amounts may form touchy wind slabs on all aspects above treeline. Cracking and whumfing in the upper snowpack are indicators of wind slab. Human triggering is possible.
An onshore flow will bring mostly cloudy skies, new snow, and moderate to strong mountain top wind. Tuesday’s easterly wind will switch back to the southwest.
Wednesday: New snow 5-10 cm. Alpine temperatures -12 C to -15 C and ridgetop wind moderate from the southwest.
Thursday: Light snow in the morning 3-5 cm. Alpine temperatures -15 C. Ridgetop wind generally light from the southwest.
Friday: Trace of new snow. Alpine temperature dipping to – 22 C. Ridgetop wind light from the northeast switching to the southeast later in the day.
No recent reports of avalanche activity on Tuesday.
Over the weekend, large natural avalanches (size 2 and 2.5) were on alpine lee features. A MIN report also noted a slab release size 2 above Bryant Lake.
Lots of whumpfing and cracking have been notified across the region and are most likely to be associated with early-season shallow snowpack and wind-affected snow.
Up to 5 cm of new snow fell overnight Monday. On most aspects above the treeline, wind-affected snow exists showing signs of cracking, whumfing, and cross-loading. Wind slabs are present and potentially reactive to human triggers.
Little information is available about a weak layer of facets over a crust reported lower in the snowpack. Snow depths are approximately 80 cm at treeline and 100-120 in the alpine.
