Northwest Inland

Wind is the major weather factor to keep a close eye on this weekend. Wind slabs may be encountered on unexpected aspects due to strong outflow winds.

Moderate - Wind speed and direction is uncertain

Saturday: Mostly sunny / Light to moderate easterly winds / High of -19 C.Sunday: Sunny / Light to moderate easterly winds / High of -19 C. Monday: Sunny / Light to moderate northeasterly winds / High of -18 C.

Wind slabs are a concern in open areas at treeline and above. No new avalanches were reported on Thursday; however, check out the recent MIN report for the Miller Creek/ Crater Lake area. That report indicated a natural size 2 slab avalanche which appeared to be a cornice failure in steep complex terrain. The avalanche was noted from a southeast aspect at 1850 m.

Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Recent winds have blown from many directions, most recently from the east. As a result, expect wind slabs to exist on a wide variety of exposed slopes. A layer of surface hoar was reported around Hudson Bay Mountain last week, which now sits beneath 40-50 cm of settling snow. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep, and recent snowpack tests produced sudden results on facets (sugary snow) above this crust. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.