Cornice activity remains the main concern going into the weekend. Select your route carefully to avoid exposure to cornices.
Fresh cornice falls were observed on Tuesday and then again on Thursday in the Churchill Range. This activity is likely from strong solar input, new cornice growth and the cold temperatures making them brittle.
Saturday will be mainly cloudy with scattered flurries up to 5cm. Winds will be light with the freezing level rising to 1400m. Sunday will see a mix of sun and cloud with minimal winds and freezing level to 1500m. Monday will be similar with the freezing level rising to 1800m. Solid freeze and recovery expected each night.
Previous moderate N winds have pressed surface snow and scoured exposed features TL and above. Isolated wind slabs and large cross loaded pockets exist in the alpine but have bonded well to previous surface. On solar aspects a faceting crust exist up to 2400m under 10-15cm of snow: a 1-5cm melt-freeze crust exists to 2200m all aspects down 10cm.
On Tuesday and Thursday two natural cornice falls were observed on the Churchill range. These cornices did not trigger slabs below. On Wednesday a cornice triggered size 2 wind slab was observed on Pyramid; a similar observation was made from Marmot ski area off Manx peak on the same day.
