Watch for avalanche hazard increasing in the afternoon as new snow accumulates. Investigate how storm snow is bonding to the crust below it and use appropriate sluff management techniques in steep terrain.
Hazard will increase in the afternoon as storm snow accumulates above a hard melt-freeze crust. Where winds have redistributed snow watch for an increase in slab properties and reactivity. Be careful with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
On Wednesday, explosives control produced a few size 1 avalanches on new storm snow. Backcountry users should expect to see evidence of a small loose dry avalanche cycle in steep terrain.
Please continue to post your reports and photos to the Mountain Information Network, the information is very helpful to forecasters.
Afternoon flurries will build upon 10-15 cm of storm snow overlying a melt-freeze crust. The crust varies in thickness from thick and supportive to thin and breakable. The middle and lower snowpack is strong and bonded.
Thursday night
Isolated flurries overnight, 2-4 cm accumulation. Southwesterly ridgetop winds 40 to 60 km/h. Treeline temperatures -1 ˚C. Freezing levels climb to 1500 m.
Friday
Cloudy with flurries starting around noon bringing 5-10 mm of precipitation. Southerly ridgetop winds 50 to 70 km/h. Treeline temperatures -2 ˚C. Freezing levels fall to 1200 m.
Overnight storm increases in intensity. An additional 30-50 mm of precipitation is expected overnight. 40 to 70 km/h south wind.
SaturdayThe storm continues with cloudy skies and flurries, 25 mm precipitation. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind, treeline temperatures warm to -2 ˚C. Freezing levels 1300 m.
SundayCloudy skies with scattered flurries, 10 mm precipitation. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind, treeline temperatures warm to -2 ˚C. Freezing levels 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
