Watch for fresh slabs forming at higher elevations with new snow and wind. New snow may be reactive to human triggers as it accumulates over a smooth crust.
Fresh wind slabs may form as winds from the west redistribute recent light snowfall. These slabs are more reactive where they overlie buried surface hoar or a smooth crust.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with light to moderate westerly winds. Light snowfall overnight, up to 8cm by morning. Freezing levels at valley bottom.
WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with light westerly winds gusting moderate. Freezing levels reach 1300m, alpine high of -2.
THURSDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with strong westerly winds. Chance of flurries. Freezing levels rise rise toward 2000 m. Alpine high of 0.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with moderate westerly winds. Chance of flurries. Freezing levels remain around 2000 m. Alpine high of +2.
No new avalanches were reported on Monday.
The last persistent slab near this region was reported on Saturday in the Steeples. This avalanche had wide propagation on a south facing aspect at 2300 m and ran for 2 km. It is believed to have occurred on the late January persistent weak layer, with an approximate depth of 50 cm.
5-15 cm of new snow overlies a variety of surfaces. Higher elevations have been heavily wind effected, and a melt freeze crust exists on solar aspects into the alpine. Lower elevations hold a widespread thick melt freeze on all aspects.
The late January interface is buried 15-40cm deep, and consists of a melt-freeze crust at lower elevations and on solar aspects extending into the alpine. Surface hoar sits above the crust in sheltered areas at treeline and below.
The widespread January 18 rain crust is now around 40-100cm deep with weak faceted snow above. It is most prominent in the Lizard range. In heavily wind scoured areas at treeline and above this crust may even be found on the surface.
The snowpack below is well consolidated, with the early-December crust/facet persistent weak layer buried 100-200 cm deep. It is currently considered dormant. We expect this layer to become active later this season, check out the forecaster blog for more information.
