Watch out for new and reactive wind slabs forming throughout the day.
For the best and safest riding, seek out areas sheltered from wind-effect.
New snow and strong wind will be building slabs on lee slopes. Watch for blowing snow and remember wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
No recent slab avalanches have been reported.
Looking forward, a stormy period is forecast over the next few days and we expect the likelihood of avalanches and danger to rise accordingly with new snow amounts.
Reports have been limited, if you head into the backcountry, please consider submitting a MIN post.
Up to 15 cm of new snow is expected by Thursday afternoon, (highest amounts forecast for Pine Pass) accompanied by strong southwesterly winds. Expect to find extensive wind-effect in wind-exposed areas, including fresh wind slabs and sastrugi. In wind-sheltered terrain any new snow will fall on a faceted snowpack, and in some areas, surface hoar. A weak layer from late January consisting of surface hoar/facets or a thin crust may be found 25 to 40 cm deep. A hard melt-freeze crust from mid-January may exist approximately 50 to 100 cm deep. These two January weak layers may become a concern as more snow accumulates overtop in the coming days. The rest of the snowpack is generally consolidated and strong.
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with 0 to 10 cm of snow - highest amounts for the Pine Pass. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with 0 to 6 cm of snow - highest amounts for the Pine Pass. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 60 to 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
