Pay attention to the direction of the wind as you travel through wind exposed areas.
Recent snow and moderate winds have built new wind slabs over older wind slabs. Expect these slabs to be most reactive in leeward terrain like ridgetops and cross-loaded features, and where a firm bed surface exists.
On Wednesday there were reports of explosives controlled windslab avalanches to size 2. As well there was a report of an explosives controlled size 2.5 persistent slab avalanche at treeline 50 cm deep running on a layer of facets sitting on a crust that formed mid January.
As the wind continues to blow the coming days, wind slab avalanches will be the main concern.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Up to 30 cm of new snow early in the week has now been redistributed by predominantly west and southwest winds. This likely sits on previously formed wind slabs. A melt-freeze crust can be found below 2100m elevation band. It may be on the surface on windward slopes and buried 35 to 60 cm in lee terrain.
The middle of the snowpack is consolidated. Weak faceted grains exist near the base of the snowpack.
The average snowpack depth is 130 cm. Up to 200 cm can be found in wind-loaded areas.
Friday Night
Mainly cloudy with clear periods. Moderate west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -7 ºC.
Saturday
Mainly cloudy with sunny periods. Light to moderate west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -4 ºC. Freezing level rising to 1400m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. Light to moderate west and southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -3 °C. Freezing level around 1600m.
Monday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -2 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
