Minimize exposure to avalanche terrain as a series of storms are creating dangerous avalanche conditions.
Thick and dangerous wind slabs are forming as a series of storms hit White Pass. Natural avalanches are likely in alpine terrain during intense periods of the storm. There looks to be a break in the storm on Saturday, but human triggered wind slab avalanches will remain likely.
A series of frontal systems will bring steady snowfall and strong wind for the remainder of the week.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: 5-10 cm of new snow, 40-60 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine temperatures around -10 C.
THURSDAY: Steady snowfall with 10-20 cm of new snow, strong wind from the south, alpine high temperatures around -5 C.
FRIDAY: Steady snowfall continues with another 10-20 cm of snow, moderate to strong wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -7 C.
SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, moderate southwest wind, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.
The primary concern this week will be new slabs forming as snow accumulates.
No notable avalanches have been reported since Saturday when a large (size 3) avalanche was observed on a very steep north alpine face in Taiya Valley. It was triggered by a collapsing cornice which is a good reminder to minimize your exposure to slopes with cornices overhead.
New slabs will form this week as the weather forecast calls for roughly 10-20 cm of snow per day with strong south wind. Old wind slabs can be felt on a variety of aspects beneath the new snow, and thin sun crusts have been reported on south-facing slopes. Cornices are reported to be growing in size as well.
At White Pass the snowpack is roughly 200 cm thick and well-bonded, while in the Wheaton Valley the snowpack is much thinner and capped by a breakable crust.
