North Rockies

Strong wind continues to reshape the snowpack and build fresh wind slab. If triggered, wind slabs have potential to step down to a deeper weak layer.

Low

• Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.
• Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

No new avalanches have been reported but observations have been limited. If you head into the backcountry, consider sharing your observations with the Mountain Information Network.

Strong westerly wind has blown 25 cm of recent snow into slabs in leeward alpine and treeline terrain.

A crust from mid December, surrounded by weak facets, is buried 50 to 170 cm deep, depending on aspect and wind loading. Just over a week ago, a large natural avalanche cycle ran on this layer.

In thin snowpack areas, faceted grains or depth hoar may exist at the base of the snowpack.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.