Hard wind slabs may persist at all elevations with ongoing cold, windy conditions and may show few, if any, warning signs before being triggered.
Recent wind slab formation has been widespread, particularly in alpine terrain. Hard slabs may be present, capable of propagating farther than usual and showing few warning signs of instability.
Natural avalanche activity continues to decrease significantly since earlier this week, when strong northeast winds triggered a widespread natural avalanche cycle at treeline and above. However, human-triggered wind slabs remain possible.
Be sure to post your observations to the MIN if you get out!
Snow surfaces have been heavily wind-affected in the alpine and in exposed terrain at treeline and below. Windward slopes are scoured down to old crusts or sastrugi, while leeward slopes have been heavily loaded, forming firm wind slabs.
In isolated, wind-sheltered terrain, 20 to 60 cm of snow may sit atop a crust and/or surface hoar, primarily at treeline and below.
A January crust with associated facets is buried roughly 100 to 200 cm below the surface. Below, the remainder of the snowpack is generally well settled and well bonded.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
