As winds intensify and some areas receive new snow, keep an eye out for wind slab development in steep, exposed alpine terrain.
Increasing wind and new snow may create wind slabs in lee terrain. Surface slabs may sit atop a variety of weak grain types and/or hard surfaces.
A small (size 1) wind slab avalanche was triggered on Thursday by a sledder. It occurred on a steep alpine slope where a firm wind slab sat atop a weak faceted, shallow snowpack.
Any new snow will bury generally faceted and wind-affected surfaces. Winds will redistribute any loose surface snow into lee terrain features.
In steep, exposed alpine terrain, old, hard wind slabs may sit atop weak faceted crystals and a crust, down roughly 20 to 30 cm from the surface.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-bonded and strong.
Thursday Night
Clouds building overnight with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with 0 to 10 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with 0 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
