Watch for pockets of wind slab at ridgetop. With cold arctic air settling into the region for the next few days you should be planning conservative trips. Even a small accident can have big consequences during cold temps and short days.
Wind slabs could be found in all exposed terrain at upper elevations. These wind slabs could be more sensitive to rider triggering where they overlie facets, a crust or surface hoar.
No recent avalanches have been observed in the region however several persistent slab avalanches up to size 2 have been reported this week in the neighboring forecast region.
If you are heading into the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report.
15cm of recent snow along with variable winds has likely formed small wind slab in all exposed alpine terrain. This overlies a sun crust on south facing slopes and a layer of facets. Surface hoar can also be found under this recent snow around treeline.
A weak layer consisting of facets and a crust formed in November is now buried around 50cm deep. This layer has produced large avalanches over the last weekend and continues to show reactivity in snowpack tests in the neighboring forecast region.
In general the snowpack is quite faceted with average snowpack depths at treeline around 100cm.
Saturday Night
Flurries bringing up to 10cm of low density new snow. Light to moderate southwest wind. low of -23 at 1800m.
Sunday
Scattered flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Light southwest wind. High of -22 at 1800m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Moderate to strong west winds and a high of -24 at 1800m.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected. Moderate to strong west winds and a high of -26 at 1800m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
