Skiers have been triggering soft slabs in wind affected areas in the alpine and treeline over the last few days. Use caution when approaching wind affected terrain.
Weather Forecast
Warm temps at treeline (-2.0) today will cool this evening as a system bringing 10-20cm of snow and cooler temperatures for Saturday (-8.0 at treeline). On Sunday the weather is supposed to be drier and cool as another ridge builds with treeline temps around -10.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow from earlier this week has been transported by strong winds to create a soft slab in the alpine and treeline. This slab, which is 20-40 cm thick, overlies a layer of surface hoar, formed on Feb. 12. It is best preserved and most reactive, between 17-1900 m. It is very touchy on solar aspects where the surface hoar sits on a sun crust
Avalanche Summary
Backcountry skiers reported "touchy" conditions up Connaught Creek and Perly Rock on North aspects where slabs were skier triggered up to size 1.5. This layer is proving to be easily triggered by skiers.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.