Expect the sun to show its face tomorrow!
Solar input may trigger small loose avalanches in steep southerly terrain. These slides can accumulate enough mass to initiate more stubborn windslabs.
Isolated pockets of wind slab exist near ridgetops in the alpine. Loading has occurred from a variety of wind directions this past week.
Forecasted strong solar input and warm air aloft will likely trigger loose slides from steep solar aspects. These avalanches may trigger more stubborn windslabs below!
There have been a few reports of small (size 1 or less) rider-triggered avalanches over the past 2 days.
The wind switched to the NE on Jan 3rd, which initiated a small, isolated natural avalanche cycle in the west end of the park.
We have observed a few natural avalanches up to size 2 this week from very steep terrain in the highway corridor, triggered by the wind.
A thin crust formed in spotty locations below 2500m, due to freezing rain on Saturday afternoon. This is now buried by ~5cm of new snow.
Lower density surface snow been redistributed by moderate wind from various directions this past week, which has created pockets of soft slabs in wind prone areas. There is also a thin sun crust buried ~20cm on steep S aspects.
Overall the snowpack is strong with well settled mid and lower snowpacks.
A ridge of high pressure builds over the interior for the next two days.
Tonight Cloudy w/ clear periods, Alp Low: -8°C. Wind: NW 10-20km/hr. Freezing level 1000m.
Mon Mix of sun & cloud. Alp high -3 °C. Wind: NW 10-20km/hr. FZL 1100m
Tue Mix of sun & cloud. Alp high -1°C. Wind SW 25-50 km/hr. FZL 1000m
Wed Mainly cloudy, no precip. Alp high -7°C. Wind W 20-30km/hr. FZL 1000m
