Continuously assess for slab properties as you move through terrain
Avalanches are possible where surface snow is stiffer, especially in areas affected by wind or sun
Over the past few days the wind has come from a variety of directions. Small wind slab may exist on all aspects in exposed terrain.
A widespread weak layer is buried 40 to 60 cm deep, with slabs forming above this layer in some wind- and sun-affected areas.
No new avalanches have been reported in the past 4 days.
A notable skier-triggered slab avalanche was reported at Zupjok on Monday (see photo below and full report here). It occurred on a wind-loaded slope and failed on the persistent weak layer.
A few cm of new snow is expected to accumulate throughout Saturday, covering a variety of surfaces. In sheltered terrain, it will land on facets and surface hoar, while on exposed slopes it will overlie wind-affected snow and a sun crust.
A weak layer from late January, buried 40 to 60 cm deep, is a hard crust in many areas but consists of facets or surface hoar on sheltered upper-elevation slopes. This layer has become reactive in snowpack tests.
A crust from December is buried 80 to 120 cm deep, with facets around it in shallow snowpack areas. Otherwise, the lower snowpack is strong and bonded.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h westerly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with 1 to 2 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h westerly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Monday
Clearing sky throughout the day. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
