Stick to sheltered clearings and meadows where you will find the softest snow, the lowest avalanche danger, and lighter winds.
Continued snowfall and strong winds have created dense slabs that may avalanche under the weight of a human. Avalanches will be most likely below ridges and in cross-loaded gullies.
No new avalanches have been reported, but observations in the windiest parts of the hills have been minimal.
We expect that human triggered avalanches will be likely in wind loaded terrain.
If you are getting out in the hills this weekend, consider making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network). You can share riding conditions, snowpack observations, or even just a photo or two.
Sheltered areas may hold up to 140 cm of snow. Before Friday, north and west facing slopes were scoured, and south and east facing slopes may have had up to 300 cm. Generally stormy conditions have prevented high elevation observations, but we suspect that a period of southeast and southwest winds has resulted in varied wind loading and wind scouring across the forecast area.
Fresh, reactive wind slabs will likely continue to form on leeward slopes on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday as the strong winds shift from southwest to northwest.
It continued snowing in the hills even through the warm period on Friday, but you may find a dense or partially frozen layer in the upper snowpack.
Saturday Night
Cloudy with 3 to 5 cm of snow. Potential for localized heavier snowfall due to streamers off of the Gulf of St Lawrence, 10 cm or more. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperature -13 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Alpine temperature -15 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow. Potential for localized heavier snowsqualls due to streamers off of the Gulf of St Lawrence. 40 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperature -17 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. Potential for localized heavier snowsqualls due to streamers off of the Gulf of St Lawrence. 40 to 50 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperature -17 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
