Strong winds and new snow have built touchy windslabs in most open areas above 1900m. Best to keep to mellow terrain tomorrow and watch overhead exposure. Things are touchy enough that remote triggering isn't out of the question.
New snow and wind on Friday will add load to the current windslabs. We are expecting a natural avalanche cycle within the upper snowpack.
The new snow is rapidly settling and forming slabs either through settlement, or by pressing the snow.
Poor visibility today, but a couple of sz 2-2.5's were noted in alpine terrain. They were likely from this morning. Of particular interest was the stepping down within the storm snow. Suggests we have a few layers to wait for.
10-20cm in the last 24hrs with strong to extreme winds have built fresh wind slabs at all elevations. Any open area has a distinct soft slab feel to it with the occasional whumph (sudden settlement). The alpine has an even more widespread windslab problem, with a denser and thicker windslab. Beneath that the Feb 14 is down 60cm at treeline and still a concern with the loading.
Another 5-10cm are expected tonight with winds to continue on for several more days. Westerly ridge winds will continue in the strong range (40-50km) with strong gusts at all elevations. Temperatures will fall to -10 for a morning low, but creep up to -5 by mid afternoon.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
