Seek out areas of sheltered snow to find the best and safest skiing and riding. Forecast flurries and elevated winds mean new wind slab formation will drive avalanche hazard or the next few days.
Watch for new wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Forecast light flurries and elevated winds are likely to from fresh slabs on a continuous basis for the next few days.
MONDAY NIGHT: Increasing cloud with light flurries and up to 5 cm of new snow, continuing into the morning. Moderate south winds.
TUESDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow, continuing overnight. Moderate south winds, increasing overnight. Alpine high temperatures around -9.
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with continuing scattered flurries bringing 5-10 cm of new snow, easing overnight. Moderate to strong south winds. Alpine high temperatures around -8.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with increasing scattered flurries bringing about 5 cm of new snow. Moderate to strong southeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around -7.
Our field team encountered some freshly formed wind slabs Friday, more details here. This MCR report from the Powder Valley points to an avalanche that likely occurred early last week.
Looking forward, watch for a mix of forecast flurries and elevated winds to continuously form wind slabs over the next few days.
A subtle and aspect-dependant new layer of surface was reported on the surface in the White Pass area on Sunday. This will be something to track as forecast flurries bury it this week.
Also at the surface, a recent bout of southwest wind has created widespread wind-affected surfaces above 1100 to 1400 metres. Reports of the lower extent of this wind effect vary.
Along with these wind affected surfaces, there is a high likelihood of reactive new wind slabs in exposed terrain at higher elevations. Terrain features immediately lee of ridgecrest should be especially suspect.
A buried crust formed in early December can be found 60-100 cm below the surface, but most reports suggest the snow is quite well-bonded to this crust. There was one observation last week where facets were found above the crust, but that appears to be an anomaly rather than the norm.
The lower snowpack is strong around White Pass, but there is potential for a generally thinner and weaker snowpack structure to exist in inland areas such as the Wheaton Valley.
