Watch for small but reactive wind slabs as you gain elevation.
Wind slabs exist at treeline and above, from new snow and southwest winds. Watch for reactivity on north and east facing slopes near ridgelines.
On Friday a natural cornice fall triggered a thin, size 1.5 slab on the slope below.
Numerous operators reported chunks of cornice falling during recent warm and sunny weather, even if they do not trigger an avalanche on the slope below, they remain hazardous on their own.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
New snow and wind are forming wind slabs at higher elevations, over a melt freeze crust (on all aspects at low elevations, and on sun affected slopes to mountain top). On north facing slopes at treeline and alpine, new snow sits over previously wind affected surfaces.
The mid-snowpack is generally well-settled. The lower snowpack includes a layer of weak sugary crystals near the ground. This layer has not produced recent avalanche activity in this area, but professionals are still watching for signs of it becoming active again. Thin snowpack areas (like rocky start zones) should still be avoided as weak layers sit closer to the surface here.
Saturday Night
Cloudy, 5 of snow. Freezing level drops to 500 m. Moderate westerly wind gusting strong.
Sunday
Cloudy with light snowfall delivering 5-10 cm before tapering off. Freezing levels around 1300 m, alpine temperature around -7 °C. Moderate winds ease to light southwest.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with light easterly winds. Flurries deliver trace amounts of snow. Freezing levels rise to 1300 m.
Tuesday
Clearing skies with 1300 m freezing levels. Light easterly winds.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
