Incoming winds will raise the danger over the next couple days. We have removed the persistent slab problem from this region due to a lack of reactivity. The Dec. 2nd crust layer still exists but for now appears to be dormant
Elevated winds from the west and northwest over the next few days will blow the new light snow around. This combined with warmer temperatures has the potential to create new windslabs in areas exposed to the winds.
Thurs AM will start cold (-20 to -25), but then temps will warm to more seasonal levels. We are expecting light precip on Thurs with trace to 5 cms depending on the model. Friday will see slightly more precip with an additional 5-10 cms. Saturday will see only a trace amount of snow. Alpine winds will be strong to extreme from the W/NW throughout
15-35 cm of snow on Sunday with moderate to strong W/NW winds have created soft windslabs in the alpine. This new snow sits on a variety of surfaces including, sun crust, previous wind effect, facets and surface hoar at treeline and below. The new snow was touchy on Mt. Field on Monday, but seems to have become less reactive with the cold temps.
No new avalanches observed on a field trip on Wednesday in the Emerald Lake area. Local ski hills reporting only small soft windslab development in alpine and isolated treeline areas.
