Alpine is largely windblasted while treeline had the right mix of shelter and exposure for new wind slabs to form. Seek out sheltered snow or keep it low angle if you find it's in short supply!
Recent flurries and elevated winds mean new, reactive wind slabs should be expected around leeward features, particularly at treeline. Thursday's strong winds may have formed slabs farther downslope than usual.
No new avalanches have been reported in the region, however observations have been limited.
Please share your own observations through the Mountain Information Network.
Steady light snowfall and southeast wind has formed deeper deposits on north aspects and scoured or pressed south-facing slopes.
By Friday morning, 25 to 40 cm of accumulated snow should overlie the supportive early-December crust complex, which extends up to 1500 m. About half this amount arrived Wednesday through Thursday night.
A recent MIN report describes well-preserved surface hoar sitting on this crust in the Powder Valley. This setup is worth investigating throughout the region as slabs that form over this grain could be surprisingly touchy.
Despite the presence of faceted grains in the lower snowpack, there are no layers of concern below the crust. Snowpack depths range from about 70 to 180 cm.
Thursday night
Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. 30 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, easing. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries and a trace of new snow. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind shifting southeast. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Saturday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries bringin less than 5 cm of new snow. 15 to 25 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 15 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
