Be cautious as you enter wind-affected terrain. Newly formed wind slabs are expected to bond poorly to the slick underlying crust.
Friday's northeast wind and 10-15 cm of new snow have formed small but reactive wind slabs most likely found on southwest-facing slopes. Wind slabs are bonding poorly to the slick underlying crust.
On Friday, the South Rockies Field Team was out in the Crowsness Pass. They saw small reactive wind slabs forming with new snow and strong northeast winds. Check out the full report here.
Up to 15 cm of low-density new snow overlies hard wind-affected surfaces in open areas, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and facetted snow in sheltered areas.
A melt-freeze crust with facets above can be found 50 to 120 cm deep. It has not produced any recent avalanche activity in the region, however, professionals are still tracking it to watch for signs of it becoming an active problem.
The mid to lower snowpack is considered well-bonded at this point. Currently, we are not seeing the same basal weak layers and reactivity that many of the neighbouring regions are experiencing this season.
Friday night
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -18 °C. Light ridge wind from the northeast. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -8 °C. Ridge wind light from the northeast switching to southwest. Freezing level rises to 500 meters.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -4 °C. Ridge wind 15 to 45 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with light rain or snow. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 0 °C. Ridge wind southwest 30 to 75 km/h. Freezing level rises to 2200 meters.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
