Rossland

New snow and strong winds may form fresh wind slabs on lee slopes at upper elevations.

5 to 15 cm of snow is overlying a melt-freeze crust of varying thickness. At upper elevations, strong winds have likely blown this snow onto lee slopes, potentially forming reactive new wind slabs.

Below that, 15 to 20 cm of moist snow is sitting over a surface hoar/ crust layer from late January. Avalanches on this layer are considered unlikely at this time.

The mid and lower snowpack is well settled.

Moderate

• We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.

Warm temperatures promoted wet loose sluffing and pinwheeling on steep slopes up to size 1 during the warming on Thursday and Friday. No slab avalanches have been reported in the last week.

With new snow and strong wind in the forecast, human-triggering of wind slabs is possible.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Sunday

Mostly sunny. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.
• Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been affected by wind.