Northerly winds increase Thursday and redistribute storm snow into fresh wind slabs. Seek out sheltered terrain where snow has not been wind affected to find the best riding.
Up to 35 cm of very light unconsolidated storm snow is settling with elevated freezing levels and being redistributed by northerly winds. Watch for newly formed reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
On Tuesday, several, size 1, natural loose dry avalanches were reported from within the storm snow.
Thank you for all the MINs, please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
20-35 cm of settling snow at alpine and treeline overlies old wind slabs in wind-exposed areas. 30-50 cm of snow covers a thick supportive crust found below 2000 m.
Generally, the snowpack is well-settled. Weak layers exist within the mid and lower snowpack but the thick crusts sitting above them make triggering avalanches on these layers unlikely.
Snowpack depths are roughly 150 cm at treeline and taper rapidly below 1500 m.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy with clear periods. Northwesterly ridge top winds 15 km/h. 1500m temperature low of -2C. The above freezing layer is present from 1500 - 2500 m tonight.
Thursday
Mainly cloudy. Light northwesterly winds occasionally gusting to 50 km/h. 1500m temperature high of -1C. The above freezing layer between 1500-2500m dissipates in the afternoon and freezing levels fall to 800 m overnight.
Overnight, cloudy with scattered flurries, 5-10 cm accumulation.
Friday
Mix of sun and cloud. Light northwesterly winds occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high of -4C. Freezing levels of 1200 m.
Saturday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Light northeasterly winds occasionally gusting to 40 km/h. 1500m temperature high -4C. Freezing levels of 500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
