The recent storm snow is expected to remain touchy on Tuesday, especially in wind loaded terrain and on steep slopes where it overlies surface hoar or a crust.
The new snow is expected to be most reactive in wind loaded terrain, especially where it overlies surface hoar and/or a crust. The wind was recently blowing from the SW during the storm but is expected to switch directions on Tuesday and wind slabs may be possible on all aspects.
Unsettled conditions are expected on Tuesday as Arctic air shifts southward.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, light variable wind, treeline temperature dropping to around -12 C°.
Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with snow flurries up to 5 cm, light to moderate wind shifting to the NE, treeline high around -10 C°.
Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud, light variable wind, treeline high around -15 C°.
Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud, light to moderate variable wind, treeline high around -8 C°.
An early report from Monday shows explosives triggering numerous size 2 storm slabs which were releasing down 20-30 cm and propagating widely. On Sunday, a natural size 1 cornice release was reported failing overnight during strong winds.
Up to 25 cm of new snow has buried a highly variable snow surface which consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed high elevation terrain, a melt freeze crust at lower elevations and on solar aspects extending into the alpine, and/or widespread surface hoar in sheltered areas which is typically 10-20 mm but as big as 30 mm in places.
The widespread January 18 rain crust is now down around 40-50 cm but has not been creating an avalanche problem recently. The midpack is strong and well-consolidated above the early December facet/crust layer which is now down 100-200 cm. This layer has been dormant recently and is not currently a concern for the region but could still be a problem in the future. See the most recent forecaster blog for more details on this layer.
