Strong and sustained south west wind will continue to build fresh and reactive wind slabs. If triggered, wind slabs have potential to step down to a deeper weak layer.
Past and ongoing winds have build wind slabs in leeward terrain features at upper elevations. Expect cornice development to accompany with cornice tabs being very weak and likely to fail.
As temperatures and freezing levels rise, a crust/facet layer 50 to 170 cm deep is potentially becoming reactive. Remote triggering and step-down potential continue to be a concern with this layer.
Ongoing and sustained south west winds combined with light precipitation are continuing to build wind slabs and cornices.
A crust from mid December, surrounded by weak facets, is buried 50 to 170 cm deep, depending on aspect and wind loading. Over a week ago, a large natural avalanche cycle ran on this layer.
In thin snowpack areas, faceted grains or depth hoar may exist at the base of the snowpack. Snowpack depths are well above average for this time of year, around 2 m at treeline.
Monday Night
Cloudy. 5 to 15 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy. 2 to 3 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 4 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
