Weather Forecast
Overnight and Wednesday: A weak ridge of High pressure will continue to cause cold and dry conditions during the day. The next Pacific frontal system is expected to move into the region by Wednesday evening. Light Westerly winds will become moderate Southerly as the storm moves in and brings 5-10 mm of precipitation, that should be snow (10-15 cms) at all elevations.Thursday: Strong Southerly winds combined with flurries that should end during the day. Freezing level should remain at valley bottoms, and alpine temperatures about -15.0.Friday: Flurries and gusty Northeast winds as a cold arctic airmass moves in from the Yukon.
Avalanche Summary
Ski cutting produced soft slab avalanches up to size 1.0 in the North of the Region.
Snowpack Summary
The recent storm deposited 10-15 cms in the North of the region near Golden, and 20-25 cms further South near the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy. Some areas reported a new layer of surface hoar that developed just before the storm in the North of the region, and are now buried down 5-15 cms. Thin new windslabs continue to grow as strong Southeast winds transport snow at alpine elevations in the North. Strong Southwest winds are transporting snow into wind slabs in the South of the region.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.