Buried surface hoar is known for wide propagations and surprises!
Carefully assess your slope prior to committing.
Moderate southerly winds and 50cm of new snow this week continue to form fresh wind slabs that sit on a weak layer comprised of surface hoar and/ or a crust.
Up to 50cm of new snow this week is settling into a slab, even where sheltered from the wind. Though the natural cycle has tapered off, human triggering may still be likely.
Numerous natural avalanches were observed on Friday into early Saturday morning, caused by new snow and southerly wind. These averaged size 2-3 and were running far into the runouts.
On Thursday, a few natural wind slabs & dry loose avalanches were observed up to size 2.5 from steep alpine terrain in the highway corridor.
We've received ~50cm of new snow since Jan 7th. This new snow buries a weak interface, which consists of widespread surface hoar on all aspects into the high alpine, and a thin suncrust on steep S to W aspects. Moderate southerly winds have redistributed this new snow into wind exposed terrain.
Overall the mid and lower snowpack is strong and well settled.
High pressure builds, deflecting storms north.
Tonight Mainly cloudy. Alpine low -2°C. Light NW wind. Freezing level (FZL) 500m
Sun Cloudy w/sunny periods. Alpine high -11 °C. Light west wind. FZL 600m.
Mon Mix of sun & cloud. Alpine high -5 °C. Light west winds. FZL 900m. Alpine temperature inversion
Tues Mix of sun & cloud. Alpine high -1 °C. Moderate W winds. FZL 1400m. Alpine temperature inversion
