Watch for wind slabs in open areas at all elevations. Where slabs overlie a weak layer of facets they may be reactive to human triggering.
Increasing northerly winds will redistribute available snow into fresh wind slabs in lee terrain features at all elevations. Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
On Monday, a few wind slabs were reported in neighboring regions up to size 2. These avalanches occurred in southeast aspects and may be up to 72 hours old. They were likely triggered by northerly winds. Cold temperatures continue to keep some operators and many users out of the backcountry in the region.
If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Northerly winds have redistributed available snow into deep pockets in leeward terrain at higher elevations. At treeline and below is a weak layer of facets over a crust, down 40 to 80 cm. This layer was reactive to skier triggering primarily on east aspects between 1500 and 2000 m last week.
The mid and lower snowpack contains a series of crusts and facetted snow.
The height of snow at treeline is roughly 80 to 150 cm.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy with no precipitation, northwest alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, temperature inversion present with treeline temperature around -20 °C and valley bottom temperatures around -30 °C.
Tuesday
Increasing clouds with isolated flurries in the evening, trace amounts of snow, westerly alpine wind 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -16 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with scattered flurries, 6 to 10 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -18 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with no new precipitation, north alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -20 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
