Watch for fresh and reactive wind slabs where new snow is available for transport.
Seek out low angle, sheltered terrain for the best turns.
Wind slabs are present at higher elevations, in north and east facing terrain features. Small accumulations of fresh snow and continued winds may continue to build these slabs.
A layer of facets sitting on a crust buried in January has recently been reactive. Triggering is most likely in areas where the snowpack is thin and weak, or with a heavy load like a cornice fall or the weight of a smaller avalanche in motion triggering this deeper layer.
Warmer temperatures and some sun effect on Thursday produced small wet loose avalanches. Wind slabs were last reported earlier in the week, in north-facing terrain features.
On Friday a size 1 skier remote was reported on a north east facing slope at treeline. The avalanche was 40 cm deep and failed on a weak interface, possibly the mid-January layer. On Saturday a rider triggered a cornice fall from a distance, which produced a size 3 persistent slab avalanche on a northeast aspect at 1750 m. The avalanche was 200 cm deep and was suspected of having failed on the layer of facets above a crust buried in January.
Around 25 cm of recent snowfall will continue to be redistributed by southerly winds into wind slabs over previously wind-affected snow on north and east facing slopes. South facing terrain will likely be stripped back to a crust by these winds. Lower elevations likely have a crust on or near the surface from recent warm temperatures.
A weak layer of surface hoar/crust/facets buried in early January is now buried over 1 m deep in most areas. This layer has produced recent avalanche activity and remains a concern in terrain where the snowpack is thin. The lower snowpack consists of basal facets, particularly in shallow areas.
Our field team travelled far and wide on Thursday, check our their MIN report here for current conditions.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy with 5 cm of snow with strong southerly winds. Freezing levels drop to the valley bottom.
Sunday
Cloudy with 5 cm of snow with strong southerly winds. Freezing levels around 1000 m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with moderate southwest winds. Freezing levels remain low around 500 m. Flurries are possible in isolated areas.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny with light southwest winds. Freezing levels remain around 500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
