The avalanche hazard may increase slightly on Sunday as more wind loading occurs. Avalanches failing near the ground on a persistent weak layer can be triggered by people on steep slopes around ice climbs, or areas that look inviting to ski.
Early Season Conditions persist.
Many places with enough snow to avalanche have a weak layer of facets and/or a melt freeze crust at the base of the snowpack. This weak layer is easy to trigger by people or by additional snow or wind loading. Avoiding or minimizing exposure to steep terrain is the best way to deal with this problem.
Some light flurries are possible on Saturday night and into Sunday, especially in areas west of the divide. No significant accumulations are expected. Winds will increase into the strong range, 40-60 km/hr, out of the west. Freezing levels will be around 1500 m in the east and 1400 m in the western areas.
For more info, please see the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Local ski hills and recent backcountry observations have reported lots of whumphing, shooting cracks and avalanches up to size 2+ in steep treeline and alpine terrain. These avalanches have been very sensitive to human, natural and explosive triggers. There have also been reports of remotely triggering avalanches from significant distances. Most of these avalanches are failing on a layer of facets and/or a melt-freeze crust near the bottom of the snowpack.
It's still very much early winter with only 30-50 cm at tree-line and 40-80 cm in the alpine. Many early season hazards lurk just below the snow surface.
Recent winds have helped form slabs which sit over weak basal facets and/or a buried melt-freeze crust near the base of the snowpack. This persistent weak layer will be present for the foreseeable future.
