With new snow and SW wind gusting to strong on Friday, you can expect that we will see an increase in natural avalanche activity. Any new slabs will also be easier to trigger. Use caution in wind effected terrain.
Moderate southerly winds and 10-15 cm of new snow have formed fresh wind slabs on lee features and this sits on a weak layer comprised of surface hoar and crusts. Pockets of buried wind slab may exist on all aspects near ridgetops in the alpine.
On Thursday, a few size 1-2.5 natural wind slabs & dry loose avalanches were observed from steep alpine terrain in the highway corridor.
On Monday, we observed a size 1.5 wind slab avalanche in the alpine above NRC gully on Macdonald West Shoulder, likely rider triggered.
10-15 cm of new snow buried a weak interface which consists of widespread surface hoar present in the elevation band from ~1400 m to 2100 m and a thin sun crust on steep westerly aspects. Moderate southerly winds have redistributed this new snow in exposed terrain, loading north facing terrain.
Isolated wind slabs are buried by new snow. These can be found on all aspects in the alpine.
Overall the mid and lower snowpack is strong and well settled.
A frontal system pushes light snow into the interior Friday with a drying trend into the weekend.
Tonight Cloudy w/clear periods. Alp Low -7, Ridge wind moderate. Freezing level (FZL) 800m.
Fri Flurries. 9cm. Alpine high -6. Wind SW 20, gusting to 60. FZL 1000m
Sat Cloudy w/flurries. Alpine high -7 °C. Ridge wind W 15-45. FZL 900m.
Sun Cloudy w/ sunny periods. Alpine high -10 °C. Ridge wind NW 10-20. FZL 500m.
