Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Wind slabs may sit over a crust, increasing reactivity. Look for signs of recent wind loading, winds have varied across the region and may be further downslope than you expect.
Uncertainty remains around persistent weak layers.
Avalanches are unlikely where a supportive crust exists—stick to simple terrain where it thins or disappears.
Wind slabs may sit over a crust, increasing reactivity. Look for signs of recent wind loading, winds have varied across the region and may be further downslope than you expect.
Buried weak layers remain possible for human triggering.
Greatest concern is for north and east facing slopes at treeline, in terrain where no supportive surface crust exists.
On Saturday, small wind-affected pockets remained reactive to rider traffic.
On Sunday, a natural avalanche cycle was reported to size 2.5, likely failing throughout the weekend during the warm and windy weather. Some slabs were suspected of failing on the buried January surface hoar layer.
Strong west winds have redistributed light accumulations of storm snow at higher elevations.
Rain has formed a supportive crust to around 2000 m. Where this crust is absent or unsupportive, concern remains for the multiple persistent weak layers of surface hoar and/or facets/crusts in the upper 1 m of the snowpack
The remaining snowpack has no current layers of concern.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 35 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.