Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day on Friday as new snow and wind could form unstable slabs at upper elevations.
New slabs will rapidly form on steep wind-loaded slopes on Friday. Pay attention to snowfall rates and to where the wind is depositing snow.
Our field team observed small loose wet avalanches out of steep south aspects near Mt Cain on Wednesday. Storm slabs and wind slabs will be the main concern as new snow accumulates.
10 to 20 cm of new snow will fall on Friday, with deeper deposits in lee terrain. In most areas this snow is falling on moist or crusty snow layers, except shaded terrain above roughly 1600 m where the snow has remained dry over the past week. The middle and lower snowpack are strong and bonded.
Thursday night
Cloudy, scattered flurries starting after midnight with 1 to 3 cm of snow, 40 to 50 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures around -4 °C with freezing level dropping to 500 m.
Friday
Flurries increasing in intensity in the afternoon, 10 to 20 cm of snow, 50 to 70 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures around -2 °C with freezing level around 600 m.
SaturdayScattered flurries with 5 to 10 cm of snow, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -3 °C with freezing level around 400 m.
SundayScattered flurries with 5 cm of snow, light wind, treeline temperatures around -2 °C with freezing level around 600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
