Give the storm snow time to bond before stepping out. Storm slabs will likely remain reactive to rider traffic.
Storm slabs will likely remain reactive to rider triggering. The largest and most reactive slabs will be found on north and east aspects.
We suspect a natural storm slab cycle may have taken place at the peak of the storm Friday night.
Up to 60cm of new snow has accumulated above 700m with extreme southerly wind impacting open terrain. This snow has fallen above a melt-freeze crust, and observations from the past few days suggest the snow may bond poorly to this crust. The crust is up to 10 cm thick at lower elevations and tapers down to 1 cm thick on shaded or high elevation terrain. Below this crust, the snowpack is generally strong and bonded.
Check out this MIN from our field team to learn more.
Saturday Night
Cloudy with up to 10cm of new snow expected at higher elevations. Moderate to strong southeast winds and freezing levels falling to 1100m.
Sunday
Cloudy with around 5cm of new snow expected at higher elevations. Light westerly winds and freezing levels rising to 1400m.
Monday
Cloudy with 5 to 40cm of new snow expected at higher elevations. Greatest snowfall amounts expected on west side of island. Moderate southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1500m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 5 to 90cm of new snow expected at higher elevations. Greatest snowfall amounts expected on west side of island. Moderate to strong southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1300m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
