Keep your guard up as the wind will shift to the east and build fresh wind slabs in the alpine. Wind slabs are particularly reactive during their formation.
Last week's snowfalls and consistent strong southwesterly wind have formed thick wind slabs reactive to human triggers. With outflow wind forecasted and light snowfalls, fresh wind slabs will develop almost anywhere in the alpine and on cross-loaded areas features.
Strong outflow winds will push drier and colder air across White Pass as the Arctic front finally moves further south. Flurries will be on and off, creating blowing snow conditions.
MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with flurries / Strong, easterly winds / Low of -14
TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries 3-5 cm / Strong, easterly winds / High of -10
WEDNESDAY: Light snow 3-5 cm / Strong, southwesterly winds / High of -8
THURSDAY: Light snow 3-5 cm / Strong, southwesterly winds / High of -10
Large natural avalanches (size 2 and 2.5) were released recently on alpine lee features. Snowmobilers also triggered size 2 wind slab avalanches (size 2) near Fraser. Lots of whumpfing and cracking have been notified across the region and are most likely to be associated with early-season shallow snowpack
If you go out in the mountains, please post your observations and/or photos to the Mountain Information Network!
On most aspects above treeline, wind-affected, wind-pressed, and wind slabs are present due to continued strong southwesterly winds. Little information is available about a weak layer of facets over a crust reported lower in the snowpack. Snow depths are approximately 80 cm at treeline and 100-120 in the alpine.
