Up to 40cm of recent snow has formed storm slabs on N and E aspects, but Northerly winds are now forming slabs on S aspects as well. We have shifted back to winter and while ski quality is excellent, be cautious in wind loaded terrain.
Weather Forecast
Winds will be strong from the North on Sunday and snow flurries will continue. New snow accumulations will likely be less than 10cm. Temperatures will be below seasonal with alpine values near -16.
Avalanche Summary
Several loose dry up to size 1.5 were observed in steep alpine terrain. A size 2.0 avalanche on a SE aspect of Hero's Knob occurred sometime in the past 24 to 36 hours, but obscured conditions made it difficult to determine the trigger and the age of the debris.
Snowpack Summary
Between 10 and 40cm of storm snow now lies on a variety of previous surfaces. This storm snow is settling rapidly and is sluffing in steep terrain at higher elevations. Storm slabs exist on N and E aspects at treeline and above, and slabs are also developing on South aspects due to increasing Northerly winds.
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.