New snow may form small but reactive wind slabs over a layer of surface hoar.
Watch for signs of instability, like shooting cracks, along ridgelines and in steep terrain.
Recent snow and southerly winds may have formed small wind slabs along lee slopes near ridgelines and high points. Slabs may be building over a surface hoar layer, making them more reactive.
No new avalanches have been reported.
We expect that the recent snowfall is building isolated wind slabs in lee terrain features over a layer of surface hoar. Avalanches are expected to be small but reactive.
Up to 10 cm of recent snow is being redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds. This new snow may be building small wind slabs over a layer of surface hoar.
This surface hoar layer sits on a widespread crust found on all slopes except shaded north-facing slopes, where there is a mix of soft snow from surface faceting and wind-affected snow in open terrain features. The surface hoar is largest and best preserved on sheltered treeline and below treeline features.
Recent strong winds have stripped back southerly facing alpine slopes to a sun crust in many areas. Cornices remain large and overhanging.
The mid and lower snowpack is well settled.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
