Strong southerly winds have built hard wind slabs at higher elevations. Carefully evaluate each slope for wind slabs before committing.
Where snow is available strong winds are redistributing it into hard wind slabs and scouring exposed areas. Investigate how new wind slabs are bonding to surfaces below.
No recent avalanches have been reported, but observations are limited this time of year.
Thank you for the MIN reports! They are extremely helpful to us in the early season when snowpack information is limited. If you head into the backcountry please submit a MIN report!
Strong southerly ridge winds continue to strip exposed areas and build windslab at higher elevations. In sheltered areas at treeline and below new snow is burying a layer of small surface hoar and facets. New snow and wind slabs overlie heavily wind-affected surfaces in all open areas at higher elevations.
A faceting crust from mid-November can be found down 60 cm within the midpack and is reportedly bonding well.
Many early-season hazards exist below treeline such as rocks, stumps, and open creeks.
Thursday Night
Cloudy with scattered flurries, 1 - 5 cm accumulation. Ridge winds southwesterly 30 to 50 km/h. Temperatures are -10 at 1500 m.
Friday
Partly cloudy with a chance flurries, trace accumulation. Ridgetop winds will be southerly 30 - 50 km/h. Temperatures are -9 at 1500 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Ridge winds easterly 40 km/h. Temperatures are -10 at 1500 m.
Sunday
Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Ridge winds northeasterly 20 to 35 km/h. Temperatures are -12 at 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
