The storm will rage on after an expected large natural avalanche cycle Wednesday night. Continue avoiding avalanche terrain while the new snow settles and stabilizes.
Copious snowfall is expected to perpetuate a natural avalanche cycle through Wednesday night and the snowpack will need time to stabilize. Steep and especially wind-loaded slopes will remain highly suspect on Thursday.
No new avalanches have been reported, however visibility into much of the Island's avalanche terrain is very limited.
It is expected that a large natural avalanche cycle will be ongoing through Wednesday night. Human-triggering potential will likely persist as natural avalanches taper off.
By Thursday morning, 40 - 100 cm of new snow should have accumulated across the Island, with the greatest accumulations on the west coast. Fluctuating freezing levels are likely to form distinct layering and mid-storm failure planes as new snow accumulates.
The new snow is falling on 20 - 30 cm of older, settled snow sitting on the early December crust, or on a combination of wet grains or crust at lower elevations. Below this, the remainder of the snowpack is thoroughly settled and bonded as a result of recent heavy rain.
Snowpack depths at treeline in advance of the storm varied from about 100 -150 cm on the north and south island, closer to 200 to 250 cm on the central island.
Wednesday night
Cloudy with 10-60 mm of mixed precipitation with the greatest values on the west island. 50 to 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level reaching 1500 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with wet flurries bringing 5 to 15 cm of new snow after uncertain overnight accumulations from mixed precipitation. 50 to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind shifting southwest. Freezing level 1200 m.
Friday
Mainly cloudy with flurries bringing less than 5 cm of new snow, increasing overnight. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1300 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with continuing wet flurries bringing 5 to 30 cm of new snow. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
