We are in a period of low probability with high consequence. Buried instabilities will require large triggers such as cornice failures and intense solar input. Although hazard is low, manage you exposure.
Weather Forecast
Sunny skies this morning, but a weak weather system will bring building clouds by this afternoon. Freezing levels will remain below 1200m with light winds. Although there is a chance of flurries this afternoon, there will be no real accumulation. The prevailing high pressure ridge returns Friday with dry conditions and sun through the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Below 1900m a few cm's of snow sits on a hard crust. 15-20cm of snow sit on the Feb 18 surface hoar layer, up to 2200m. The Feb 14 crust is down 20-25 and is up to 10cm thick. Variable wind effect with pockets of thin hard slab in exposed areas above treeline. Crust on solar aspects. Persistent weak layers down 1-1.5m are stubborn to trigger.
Avalanche Summary
Several natural solar triggered avalanches and cornice failures were reported yesterday from outside the park boundary. Small pockets of wind slab have been triggered by skiers, which is primarily a concern on exposed slopes where the consequences are high (ie steep faces or over cliffs).
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.