Winds have increased speed into moderate, gusting strong range, ergo the potential for newly formed pockets of windslabs particularly in Alpine and exposed ridgetop Treeline lee slopes. This has the potential to increase the danger until the impacts of the stronger winds can be ascertained.
Potential incoming snow and wind may develop into thin but reactive windslabs. Avoid wind loaded pockets and evaluate carefully before entering steep and unsupported terrain that could be affected by wind. Windslab avalanches may step down to deeper layers.
A variety of crusts with facets above and below exist at the bottom of the snowpack. These layers are going to be with us for along time and pose a low probability, high consequence situation if triggered.
Saturday's Maligne field team reports cracking under skis on lee slopes and no new avalanches. Friday's patrol to Beauty creek did not observe any avalanches but visibility was poor.
Incoming snow will fall during windy conditions, potentially forming a thin but reactive windslab. This may form overtop a surface hoar layer that has been found in sheltered Alpine areas down 40-60 cm's. At the bottom of the snowpack there are a variety of early season crusts with large faceted crystals above and below. Both of these layers have been producing sudden planar, compression test results in test profiles.
Saturday night will be cloudy, flurries, -9 °C, and 20 gusting 50 km/hr SW winds. Sunday's weather is clouds, sun, flurries, -9 °C, 15-35km/hr SW winds. Monday to Wednesday is similar to Sunday but a few degrees colder overall.
