Use caution as the new snow settles and bonds to the existing snowpack. Avoid wind-loaded pockets and seek out riding in sheltered areas.
Early season hazards continue to pose a threat and are lurking just below the surface.
New snow will be sitting on a crust in many areas and it is unknown how well it will bond. This storm slab problem will be transitioning into a wind slab problem. Deepest and most reactive slabs can be found in wind-loaded terrain.
No new avalanches have been observed or reported in the region. Poor visibility and limited observations account for part of this. If you head into the backcountry consider submitting a MIN report.
The snowpack at 1500 m ranges between 60 and 120 cm deep. Tuesday night saw 20 to 30 cm of new snowfall in the southern and eastern regions of our area and less to the north. Our top layer of snow is low density and ranges between 45 and 80 cm. Accompanied winds, packets have begun to form in the immediate lee. At upper elevations, new snow covers a crust. Below the crust is 40 to 80 cm of early November snow. The strength of this basal interface is unknown at the moment.
Terrain features still lurk below the surface. Below treeline and even into treeline elevations are still at below the threshold for avalanches.
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with clear periods, no cm accumulation, winds northeast 10 to 25 km/h, temperatures -15 at 1500 m.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud, no accumulation, winds variable 10 to 20 km/h, temperatures -10 C at 1500 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, 5 to 10 cm accumulation, winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h, temperatures -10 to -15 C.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds northeast 10 km/h, temperatures 0 to -5 C with a temperature inversion.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
