Be prepared to dial back your terrain choices as storm slabs increase in size and likelihood.
Storm slabs are building over a widespread weak layer.
New storm slabs are expected to be reactive due to the large surface hoar they’ll form over.
Dry loose avalanches are likely where new snow doesn't form a slab.
Several small wind slabs were triggered by skiers in the region on Thursday. These avalanches were triggered on northerly aspects in the alpine and treeline, they failed on the late January surface hoar layer mentioned in the snowpack summary.
Natural and skier triggered dry loose avalanches continue to be triggered in steep terrain.
By Friday afternoon 30 to 40 cm of snow could overlie the late January surface hoar/crust layer. This new snow will be accompanied by moderate to strong southwest wind, meaning that the crust will likely remain on the surface on southerly aspects and deeper deposits will be found on north and east aspects. The surface hoar is largest on sheltered treeline and below treeline features.
The mid and lower snowpack is well settled.
Thursday Night
Cloudy. 4 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Friday
Cloudy. 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
