Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Wind effect is extremely variable

Synopsis:  The formidable ridge continues to dominate the weather through the weekend before breaking down on Monday as a series of frontal systems out of the SW begin to stack up offshore.  Saturday: Sky: Broken; Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precip: Nil Wind: Light, VariableSunday: Sky: Broken; Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precip: Nil Wind: Light, VariableMonday: Sky: Overcast; Freezing Level: 800m; Precip: 5/10 cm Wind: Light, SW | Mod SW at ridgetop.

The quantity of small wind slabs being triggered has dropped way off, but there were still a few reported from Thursday from N, E and SE facing slopes.

Snow totals from the last pulse on Wednesday (140129) range from 5 - 20 cm with the greatest accumulations in the south of the region. This snow is faceting quickly in the cold temps. In wind exposed terrain, especially in the alpine, winds continue to form shallow wind slabs that are most prevalent immediately lee of ridgecrest. These variable wind slabs should stick around a bit longer than we're accustomed to as they are resting on a weak layer composed of large grained surface hoar (widespread in most sheltered and shaded areas at all elevations), a sun crust on open south facing slopes, faceted grains (in colder areas or areas with a thinner snowpack), or a combination of the above.Most of the snowpack is generally well consolidated. However, in thinner snowpack areas a facet/crust weakness may exist near the bottom of the snowpack. The depth of this layer makes human triggering unlikely, but the consequences of doing so could be disastrous.