Storm snow is not bonding well to old firm surfaces below it. As a result, a natural avalanche cycle occurred on Tuesday. This problem increases with greater snow depths at higher elevations. Conservative terrain will be prudent until the new snow has had more time to bond.
New storm snow does not appear to be bonding well to firm surfaces below it. Storm snow amounts increase rapidly as you travel higher into the alpine. Manage your overhead hazard and investigate to determine thickness of the storm snow on the feature you are on. The thicker the snow is on the feature, the bigger the potential avalanche.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy. Snow flurries possible. Winds light and variable. Temperature -9°C.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. Flurries later in the afternoon but no significant accumulation of new snow. Winds light and variable. A high of -3°C and a low of -6°C
Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. No new snow. Winds moderate from the south. A high of -4°C and a low of -10°C.
Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. No new snow. Light winds from the southwest. A low of -12°C and a high of -6°C
On Tuesday afternoon, our field team reported a widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 2 in the alpine areas beyond Fraser (Bryant) Lake
Further south towards the U.S.A side of White Pass, there was reports of up to 20cm of new snow that had formed sensitive wind slabs that released naturally above the highway and with explosives control to size 2.
15-30cm of unconsolidated storm snow now sits on top of firm surfaces in White Pass. As of Tuesday afternoon, this storm snow had settled enough to produce a widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 2 as reported by our field team. The avalanches were running on firm, wind hammered surfaces.
The middle snowpack is firm, well settled, and bonded and is effectively bridging the weak, sugary crystals that exists at the bottom of the snowpack.
Areas north of the White Pass such as Paddy Peak, Tutshi, and Powder Valley continue to host a wind smashed and scoured landscape.
