Choose simple terrain that is sheltered from the wind, and watch for signs of instability. At lower elevations, the new snow is falling on a hard, slippery crust. Avalanches and humans could slide farther than expected.
10-30 cm of new snow has likely been formed into windslabs by strong southwest winds.
Expect these slabs to be reactive to the weight of a rider, especially where they are sitting on top of a crust. (below 1200 m)
Stormy conditions Friday night and through the day Saturday. Expect the higher snowfall amounts shown below to hold true for the areas closest to White Pass.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. 5-15 cm of snow expected. Extreme southwest winds trending to south by the morning. Alpine temperatures around -7 °C.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. 5-15 cm of snow expected. Extreme southwest wind becoming strong by the afternoon. Freezing level rising to around 750 m. Alpine temperatures around -5 °C.
SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. Possible trace of snow expected. Light west wind, trending to moderate northwest at higher elevations. Freezing level falls to valley bottom. Alpine high around -7 °C.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Possible trace of snow expected. Light northwest wind trending to strong at higher elevations. Alpine high around -10 °C.
WIth new snow and wind Friday night and through the day Saturday, we expect rider triggered windslab avalanches to be likely in terrain exposed to the wind.
No new avalanches were reported before 4 pm on Friday.
On Thursday, explosives avalanche control between Carcross and Fraser produced a couple of size 2 windslab avalanches. These avalanches were on east and southeast aspects just above treeline.
10-30 cm of new snow has likely been formed into windslabs by southwest winds. In more exposed terrain, where wind speeds could reach 80 km/h, the new snow could be scoured away, or transported further downslope on leeward terrain.
The new snow overlies a breakable crust up to 1200m, and a variety of wind affected surfaces above 1200m.
The mid snowpack is generally dense and strong.
In shallow snowpack areas, a layer of loose facets can be found at the bottom of the snowpack.
