Wind slabs may be hidden by a dusting of new snow but keep in mind, human triggering of wind slabs may still be possible where they sit over a weak layer.
Previous wind events have loaded dense wind slab over a weak layer of surface hoar. Recent warm temperatures have likely promoted bonding of this layer and there is uncertainty around whether it is still sensitive to triggering.
Saturday night: Partly cloudy. Moderate northwest wind. Freezing level 500 m.
Sunday: Around 10 cm new snow. Light southwest wind. Freezing level 700 m.
Monday: Up to 10 cm new snow overnight then scattered flurries. Moderate northeast wind. Freezing level 700 m.
Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud. Light north wind. Freezing level 500 m.
Loose wet avalanches were observed on solar aspects during the warm, sunny week. A few cornice failures were observed Wednesday but did not trigger slabs. Lingering wind slabs and buried weak layers are still possible to be triggered by riders.
If you decide to travel in the backcountry, consider sharing your observations with us and fellow recreationists via the Mountain Information Network (MIN) to supplement our data stream as operators are shutting down. Even just a photo of what the day looked like would be helpful.
Around 10 cm of new snow is falling over extensively wind-affected surfaces, and over melt-freeze crusts on solar aspects and low elevations.
A weak layer of surface hoar crystals buried early March may be found around 40 cm deep.
An early-season layer of faceted grains and melt-freeze crust near the base of the snowpack may linger. The most suspect locations to trigger this layer would be where the snowpack is thin near rocky outcrops. A large load, such as a cornice fall, also has the potential of triggering it. With cooling temperatures and increased cloud cover over the next few days, deep persistent avalanches on these layers are unlikely.
