Wind slabs may remain triggerable on lee slopes.
Carefully assess for slabs before entering big or committing terrain features.
Strong winds at upper elevations formed wind slabs on lee northerly through easterly slopes. These winds may have affected areas farther downslope than normal due to their strength.
No new avalanches have been reported. Observations have been limited with no field team in the area this week.
Wind slabs may remain reactive to triggering on Saturday; naturally triggered avalanches are unlikely.
If you head out, please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Open areas and upper elevations have likely seen widespread wind effect from recent strong to extreme southwesterly winds. This has built wind slabs on lee north through easterly slopes.
A melt-freeze crust may be capping the snow surface on sunny slopes and at lower elevations.
Around 60 to 90 cm of dense settling snow may be overlying a layer of surface hoar. The likeliest place to find this layer is in sheltered areas at and below the tree line. There is uncertainty with its distribution and reactivity at this time.
The remainder of the snowpack is well settled with no additional layers of concern. Snowpack depths at treeline range from 95 to 250 cm, and there is still very little snow below treeline.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Sunday
Sunny. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
