Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Overnight Friday: 5-10 cm new snow with strong SW winds and treeline temperatures around -10C.Saturday: light snow (2-5 cm) with winds gusting to 40 km/h at Ridgetop. Treeline temperatures around -10C.Sunday: 5 cm snow expected overnight Saturday, but during the day on Sunday, things should be mostly dry. Moderate SW winds. Treeline temperatures around -8C.Monday: 5 cm new snow. Moderate SE winds. Treeline temperatures falling to -18C.
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, a size 2 avalanche was triggered by a skier on a northeast aspect at 1900 m. The fracture depth was 30 cm and the slide ran for 150 m.
Snowpack Summary
Variable amounts of new snow have given storm slab depths ranging from approximately 20 to 50 cm. Extensive wind transport has build big wind drifts in many areas behind exposed terrain features. Two crusts have been identified in the snowpack: one close to the ground that formed in early November and one around 90 cm below the surface, which formed in early December. Snowpack tests indicate these crusts are well bonded to the snow above and below.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.