Conditions are ripe for natural and human triggered avalanches.
Weather Forecast
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries amounting to a few more cm. Alpine temps cooling to -10C with NW winds light gusting to moderate.
Snowpack Summary
Upwards of 60cm of storm snow in the past 48hrs at treeline elevation. Snow was redistributed by S winds in the moderate range. Touchy windslabs were reported at 2100m above Hospital bowl on a SE aspect with cracking, whumphing and remote triggering of unsupported features at 10m distance.
Avalanche Summary
13 avalanches observed on Mt MacDonald in the highway corridor on N aspect running into the fan. 1 size 3 avalanche off S asp of Mt Tupper overnight. An MCR report noted an avalanche running 3/4 path off of Cheops yesterday afternoon.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
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.
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.