Wind slabs have formed at all elevations and remain possible to human-trigger.
Continually assess surface conditions and back off if the snow feels dense or stiff.
Strong SW wind has build wind slabs in open terrain features. Likely trigger areas are the downwind side of ridges, peaks and terrain breaks. Wind slabs will be more reactive in the Elkford area where a surface hoar layer is present.
A few small wind slab avalanches were reported in the south of the region that had formed further downslope due to high wind speeds.
Strong to extreme winds have stripped southwest alpine features and developed wind slabs low in the terrain and in lee and cross- loaded features. In the Elkford area a surface hoar layer can be found down 40 cm.
The mid-pack is wind pressed and consolidated with a melt-freeze crust that is thin or absent in alpine terrain, while thicker and widespread at treeline and below.
Near the bottom of the snowpack, a crust with facets deep in the snowpack remains on our radar, particularly in areas with a thinner snowpack.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 4 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Friday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
