Forecasted moderate to strong winds will continue to load the recent storm snow at upper elevations. We continue to see avalanches failing on the windslab problem and in some cases stepping down to the deep persistent layer.
Another windy day Friday with gusts to 95km/h continues to create wind slabs. These slabs are sensitive and can be easily triggered by humans. In many areas, these wind slabs overlay a variety of surfaces like crust, and facets.
The recent new snow and wind have added enough load to reawaken the deep persistent slab problem and we have observed several avalanches stepping down to ground.
Touchy wind slabs were found Thursday during avalanche control on Hwy 93 S producing results up to size 3. Many avalanches stepped to the ground. Local ski hills continue to report reactive wind slabs at upper elevations producing avalanches to size 2.
Upto 35cm of recent storm snow in the North (15cm in the South) of the region has been redistributed by strong winds forming widespread, reactive windslabs at higher elevations. Two crusts exist in the upper snowpack and the November facets remain near the base. These buried weak layers remain a concern and continue to produce avalanches. Minimal reactivity has been observed below treeline.
A westerly flow will continue to bring cloudy skies and light precipitation over the weekend. Snow accumulation will be greater on the Western slopes of the Rockies with up to 10cm by Monday. Ridgetop winds will stay in the moderate to strong range from the West, and freezing levels near valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
