Use caution on north and east slopes where strong winds have transported fresh snow into deep cohesive pockets that are possible to human trigger.
New snow and strong southwest winds are building deep pockets of fresh wind slabs on leeward slopes. Look for signs of instability especially as you transition into wind affected terrain.
On Thursday, several natural loose wet size 1-1.5 avalanches were reported on solar aspects.
On Wednesday, a few skier accidental, size 1, wind slab avalanches were reported on a northwest aspect at 2100 m. In steep north facing alpine terrain power sluffing from skier traffic was reported to easily gain mass and become loose dry avalanches up to size 1.5.
+10 cm of recent storm snow overlies 15-30 cm of soft snow. A widespread crust is found down 20-40 cm, except on north-facing slopes at treeline and above, where it sits on old, faceted surfaces, and surface hoar in some areas.
The mid-pack is generally well-settled.
In some areas, the lower snowpack includes a layer of weak facets near the ground. No recent avalanches have been reported on this layer. However, we continue to track the layer and watch for any signs of it becoming active again.
Friday Night
Cloudy with flurries, up to 10 cm accumulation. Ridgetop wind 40 km/h from the southwest. Freezing levels remain at 1500 m.
Saturday
Mainly cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Ridgetop wind 40 km/h from the southwest. Freezing levels 1700 m.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud. Isolated flurries bring mixed precipitation, trace accumulation. Ridgetop wind 40 km/h gusting to 70 km/h from the southwest. Freezing levels 2000 m.
A storm impacts the region overnight bringing 10-20 mm of mixed precipitation and 2100 m freezing levels.
Monday
Cloudy with mixed precipitation, 35-50 mm accumulation. Ridgetop wind 60 km/h gusting to 80 km/h from the southwest. Freezing levels 2500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
