Wind slabs may remain reactive especially around ridges and steep, unsupported features or where they have formed over a crust.
Wind slabs may remain reactive especially where they have formed over a crust. With recent strong winds, slabs may lurk further downslope or in less common locations.
Large overhanging cornices have been observed in the region. Limit your exposure to these hazards. A falling cornice could easily trigger a wind slab on the slope below.
Sunday night: Unsettled with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Moderate southeast wind overnight. Ridgetop low -12 C.
Monday: Unsettled with flurries in the afternoon, trace to 10 cm. Moderate southeasterly wind. Ridgetop high reaching -3 C.
Tuesday: Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm. Moderate westerly wind. Ridgetop high -6 C.
Wednesday: Flurries. Moderate and increasing southeasterly wind. Ridgetop high -6 C.
On Saturday, a small 3 m wide wind slab, 10-30 cm thick, was easily triggered by workers shoveling cornices.
On Thursday, a couple of small (size 1) wind slabs were reactive to skiers, about 15 cm deep on a north aspect. Otherwise, there have been no recent avalanche observations since earlier in the week when natural cornice falls were observed throughout the region.
Recent south-southeast wind redistributed 5-15 cm recent snow into pressed surfaces and wind slab at treeline and higher. Below recent snow, a crust can be found on all aspects and elevations except high north terrain where cold snow prevailed through recent warm temperatures. Large overhanging cornices have also been observed in the region, may be larger and touchier from the recent wind event.
A couple of layers of weak crystals in the upper snowpack appear to be bonding well according to recent observations and snowpack tests.
