The snowpack may take a while to equilibrate to the substantial load that was added to it. Conservative terrain travel is essential at this time until we have clear evidence that buried weak layers have stabilized.
Weak layers of surface hoar and/or faceted grains overly a hard melt-freeze crust around 50 to 100 cm deep. Monday's storm snow is loading these layers. The likelihood of triggering these layers will remain likely as it stabilizes with the load that was added to it.
The recent 30 to 40 cm of snow will take some time to stabilize. The snow fell with strong and variable wind, so deep and touchy deposits are likely found near ridges too. Don't let good visibility lure you into dangerous avalanche terrain.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, 20 to 40 km/h northwest wind, alpine temperature -10 C.
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, 20 to 40 km/h northwest wind, alpine temperature -7 C.
THURSDAY: Clear skies, 20 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -3 C.
FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, 20 km/h south wind, alpine temperature -3 C.
Early reports on Tuesday found large storm slab avalanche activity within Monday's storm snow, generally out of alpine terrain. It is anticipated that a natural avalanche cycle occurred during the storm on Monday night. Photos in this MIN show a close-up of how dangerous the snowpack is right now. Expect human-triggered avalanches to be likely to occur on Wednesday as the snowpack equilibrates to the new load.
A hefty storm impacted the region Monday and Monday night, with around 30 to 40 cm of snow accumulation. Strong wind accompanied the storm, blowing from the south, west, and north. Expect to find storm and wind slabs across the region. The snow will likely take a few days to bond to the snowpack.
This snow is loading weak layers around 50 to 100 cm deep. The layers may be composed of feathery surface hoar and/or sugary faceted grains and they overly a hard melt-freeze crust. There has already been substantial avalanche activity on this layer from natural and human triggers. This layer remains a major concern, as humans may be able to trigger large and destructive avalanches on it.
Another crust with associated faceted grains may be found near the base of the snowpack. There have been no recent avalanches reported on this layer but it remains on our radar. The most likely place to trigger it would be from shallow, rocky terrain.
