New snow and wind will build a stormslab. This could be most reactive where it overlies a weak layer of surface hoar.
Watch out for this problem in steep, smooth, lee features.
More snow and strong SW'ly winds have continued to build a storm slab. In the alpine expect this to be most reactive in ridgetop lee features. Around treeline this layer is more likely to fail on buried surface hoar down 30 cms.
This past weekend a skier triggered a size 2.0 avalanche at Balu Pass and they went for a rocky ride. The avalanche was triggered from a thin area, and fractured ~30m above the rider. The rider was caught and partially buried.
This time of year areas with smooth ground cover are more likely to produce avalanches.
There is ~120-140cms of snow on the ground in the Alpine, 80-120cm at treeline, and 20cm at the highway elevation.
A surface hoar layer is buried down ~30cm in open areas treeline and above. This is the main layer in the snowpack to watch for.
Glaciers have poor coverage with just enough snow to hide small crevasses. Approach glaciers with caution right now!
We'll see a clearing trend Tuesday before (weak) storms arrive Wednesday and Thursday.
Tonight: Flurries, 5cm. Alpine low -5°C. Freezing level (FZL) 1400m. Ridge winds SW 30-45km/hr.
Tues: Cloudy with flurries. Alp high -5°C. FZL 1300m. Wind SW 15-25
Wed: Scattered flurries, 5cm. Alpine high -1°C. FZL 2100m. Winds SW 30-50km/h.
Thur: Periods of rain and snow, 14cm. Alpine high 2°C. FZL 2500m. Winds SW 30-50km/h
