Forecast precipitation is due to fall as snow. Avalanche danger will increase as the snowfall begins to accumulate in the coming days.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: Snow, accumulations 15-25cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2 MONDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -1 TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -3
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity has been reported.
Snowpack Summary
On Friday January 5th the rain began to fall in earnest. By Friday evening the Strachan weather Station at 1220m had recorded 53mm of total rain fall. This rain has saturated the entire snowpack on all but the highest elevation slopes. Gradually cooling temperatures through the day on Saturday have more than likely created a crust on the surface of the snow at elevations above 1100m. Looking down into the snowpack there are a few prominent melt-freeze crusts that were buried mid-December and are now 50 to 100cm below the surface. Snowpack investigation Friday afternoon revealed rain is not pooling at these crusts with any significance.The rain has reduced the snowpack depth at 1000m to about 140cm and many early season hazards are still present at lower elevations.
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.