Windslabs are evident in Alpine features along gullies and in crossloaded terrain. The Sun is your friend on these cold days so plan to be on Solar aspects!
Windslabs along ridgelines and in gullied terrain are evident in alpine features. Use caution in steeper or unsupported features and look for cracking or the drummy feeling. Some features in the Alpine had a distinct drummy feeling on Thursday.
Winds will be mostly light on Friday with no new snow expected. Temperatures will remain cool with daytime highs around -19C expected. Plan your trips to be in the sun for the better part of the day! No new snow is expected this week.
A few loose dry slides on north aspects up to sz 1.
Wind affect in alpine areas can be seen. In some areas it is more extensive than others with dense windslabs up to 20cm thick. These slabs are in crossloaded features and along ridgelines. At treeline the slabs are much less prominent. Be careful in steep unsupported features where a smaller windslab may be reactive to a skier. Thinner areas are starting to facet out and loose strength but overall the snowpack is handling the cooler temperatures well and remains mostly supportive. Steep north facing terrain is producing loose dry sluffing in the upper snowpack as it weakens.
