Be prepared to back off lines as snow accumulates through the day and the likelihood of avalanches increases.
New snow and strong southerly winds will form storm and wind slabs throughout the day. The largest and most reactive slabs will be found on lee and cross loaded features. Strong winds mean that wind slabs may be found further down slope than usual.
At lower elevations where precipitation is more likely to fall as rain, wet loose avalanches are likely in steep terrain. Avoid terrain where even a small avalanche could push you into a terrain trap or over cliffs.
In the past couple days , a few natural thin wind slabs were observed in alpine and at treeline as well as loose wet avalanches (up to size 2) at treeline and below.
We suspect that rider triggerable storm and wind slabs will be found at all elevations on Sunday.
The storm on Sunday will bring another 15 cm of storm snow bringing recent totals to 40-50 cm. Wind slabs will form on west through east aspects due to strong southerly winds. Storm snow will overlie a crust on all solar slopes and all aspects treeline and below.
The base of the snowpack remains faceted and weak. Avalanche activity has not been observed on this layer recently but concern remains for shallow rocky snowpack areas.
Saturday Night
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected. Strong southerly winds and freezing levels falling to 1400 m.
Sunday
Stormy with 15 cm of new snow expected. Strong to extreme southerly winds and freezing levels rising to 1800 m with the snowline around 1000 m.
Monday
Cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5cm of new snow. Light to moderate southerly winds and freezing levels rising to 1500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with up to 10cm of new snow possible. Moderate southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
