Start and finish your day early.
If you head up to high north-facing terrain in search of dry powder, avoid wind-loaded areas and overhead hazard.
Up to 20 cm of recent snow has formed slabs in wind-loaded areas at upper elevations. These slabs have been most reactive where they overlie a crust.
Very large natural persistent slab avalanches have recently been reported, primarily on northerly aspects in the alpine.
Wet loose avalanches are likely on steep solar slopes when the sun is strong.
On Tuesday, a naturally triggered size 3 and a cornice triggered size 2.5 persistent slabs were reported on northerly aspects in the alpine near Blue River.
There have been several recent cornice falls triggering very large persistent slabs in this region.
NOTE: Observations in this region are currently very limited.
On the surface, up to 20 cm of recent snow exists on northerly aspects in the alpine. Solar aspects and lower elevations will sport a crust or moist snow.
Below this, a 5 to 25 cm variable strength crust from last week's rain event is present. This is capping a moist upper snowpack.
The primary weak layer of concern is a surface hoar, facet, and crust layer from early March, buried 60 to 120 cm deep.
The lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong in most areas.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridge top wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Friday
Mostly clear. 5 to 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature rising to 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature rising to +1 °C. Freezing level rising to 2200 m.
Sunday
Increasing cloud cover. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
