Winds are forecasted to spike today so might the avalanche activity. Avoid steep unsupported terrain features or where there are buried crusts.
Weather Forecast
Today we can expect 5+ cm of new snow with convective flurries, westerly winds 25km/h gusting to 50 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom, with an alpine high of -11. Forecast is for a warm up on Thursday and Friday will bring the next significant storm, with 15-20 cm of new snow.
Snowpack Summary
~25cm of low density snow from the 25th with mod S winds forming soft slabs along lee of ridges. Storm snow landing on a facetted old snow surface making for a weak bond. Avoid exposure to the many large cornices. Windslabs buried under recent storm snow. Solar aspects have a crust buried 30-50cm that requires caution. PWL now buried 150-200cm.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed in the HWY corridor or reported from the backcountry yesterday. 2 days ago there were several avalanches in the HWY corridor, mostly in the size 2-2.5 range out of very steep terrain. All initiating in the storm snow and most running to half fan on the run outs.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
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.