If the sun remains out this afternoon, use caution on slopes facing the sun. Loose avalanches are possible, triggered from hot spots like trees and rocks.
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure remains in place today, bringing alpine temps around -12, light ridge top winds and mainly sunny skies. A dry day is forecast again for tomorrow, with cool valley bottom temperatures and a possible above freezing layer between 2000 and 2800m, likely producing valley cloud. There is a slight chance of flurries for Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
Around 50 cm of storm snow is settling. The interface between this snow and the old surface is producing moderate results in stability tests at treeline. This storm had mild temp's and mod/strong winds from the W, creating storm slabs. Although this fell on a well-settled snowpack, the Nov 28 weak layer could still be triggered by a large mass.
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday along the highway corridor, we observed a couple loose, solar triggered avalanches up to size 2. On Thursday/Friday numerous natural and artillery controlled avalanches along the highway corridor occurred. Artificial triggers produced the largest avalanches up to size 3.5. On Mt. Tupper a size 3.5 cleared out mature timber.
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.
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.