6:30AM UPDATE: New snow and wind will form fresh, reactive wind slabs over a weak surface.
Seek out sheltered terrain without overhead hazard.
Strong winds will likely build fresh wind slabs on lee aspects. Below 2000 m these will form over a thin melt freeze crust.
On Friday, one natural size 2 wet slab was reported in the Duffey area.
Explosive control was also conducted in the Duffey, and produced one size 1.5 avalanche that failed on basal facets in an area of very shallow snowpack.
On Thursday, several small size 1 to 1.5 explosive triggered slab avalanches were reported in the Duffey Lake area. These occurred in shallow, rocky terrain features.
In the alpine, strong winds have stripped windward terrain and snow is wind affected in lee terrain features. Below 2000 m a crust has formed over a saturated upper snowpack, that may break down on steep, solar aspects during the day.
An older crust with properties that are aspect and elevation dependent is down roughly 40 cm and combined with facets.
The mid to lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong. Snowpack depth ranges from 150 to 250 cm at treeline elevations.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Saturday
Cloudy. 5 to 20 cm of snow at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Monday
A mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
