Touchy storm slabs that formed on Saturday will remain reactive to human triggers through the weekend; especially in wind affected terrain.
The new snow will increase the likelihood of triggering the persistent slab problem. Learn more HERE.
A layer of weak facets (sugary snow) can be found down 80-150 cm near a crust layer that formed in early December. This persistent slab problem has recently been most reactive at treeline elevations and is possible to human trigger on some slopes. Avoid likely trigger spots such as steep, convex slopes, with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack.
Fresh storm slabs formed on Saturday will remain reactive to human triggers through the weekend, especially in wind affected terrain.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Snow; 5-15 cm / Moderate west wind / Low of -16
SUNDAY: Clearing skies with a mix of sun and cloud / Light northwest wind / High of -13
MONDAY: Sunny / Light southwest wind / High of -16
TUESDAY: Increasing cloudiness / Moderate northwest wind / High of -15
Fresh storm slabs formed on Saturday will likely remain reactive to human triggers through the weekend, especially in wind affected terrain.
A naturally triggered size 2.5 persistent slab avalanche was observed in the Monashees on Wednesday on a West aspect at 2150 m. This avalanche failed on the early December facet/crust combo. It was 100 cm deep, a good example of the high consequence of triggering this layer.
25-35 cm of new snow and strong southwesterly winds on Saturday formed touchy storm slabs that will remain reactive to human triggers though the weekend; especially in wind affected terrain.
Below the new snow, the defining feature of the snowpack is a widespread crust that reaches as high as 2200m and now sits 80-150 cm below the surface.
In some places overlying snow is well-bonded to the crust but in others weak faceted grains have been observed above it. The facets above the crust are most prominent at treeline where the crust is thinner.
The recent snow will increase the likelihood of triggering this layer.
