Multiple generations of wind slab now exist in exposed alpine and treeline terrain so if you go looking for trouble, you can probably still find it. Avoid the problem and seek out better quality riding in sheltered terrain.
Winds do continue to blow at higher elevations and there is snow available for transport so continue to watch for wind slabs as you move through wind exposed terrain.
A layer of faceted grains near the base of the snowpack remains on the radar for areas of this region where the snowpack is shallow and where a hard melt-freeze crust formed around Christmas does not exist. This describes most areas outside the Lizard Range such as the Bull River, Flathead, and Elkford.
A wind slab avalanche was reported in this great MIN from Fish Bowl near Fernie on February 15th.
Other small wind slab and dry loose avalanches have been reported in the area over the last 48hrs.
Small amounts of recent new snow has been redistributed by southwest winds into either wind slabs or wind pressed surfaces. In addition, a sun crust has formed on steep solar aspects all the way up to low alpine elevations. Given this, quality riding can still be found in sheltered terrain.
The middle of the snowpack is well consolidated and sits on a thick crust. The bottom of the snowpack still consists of weak, sugary crystals that are slowly gaining strength in areas with a deeper snowpack.
Cornices continue to grow with the wind.
Deep persistent slab avalanches should still be on your radar in areas outside of the Lizard Range such as the Bull River, Elkford, and the Flathead.
Thursday night
Increasing cloudiness through the night. Flurries delivering 2-4 cm of snow. Wind from the southwest 20 km/h. Temperature -4˚C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 5 cm of new snow. Wind from the southwest at 15 km/h. Temperature -4˚C.
SaturdayCloudy. 5 - 10 cm of new snow. Wind from the southwest 15 km/h in the morning becoming north at 10 km/h in the afternoon. Temperature -5˚C to -2˚C.
SundayA mix of sun and clouds as a short lived ridge sweeps through. Winds from the southwest at 10 km/h. Temperature -8˚C in the morning rising to -2˚C in the afternoon.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
