Cautious decision making is essential for the forecast period. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended during periods of HIGH danger.
Confidence
Poor - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Cloudy with lingering snowfall. Expect up to 40cm of total accumulations. Winds should be strong southwesterlies with freezing levels climbing to 1200m.Thursday: Expect some light flurries. As the storm abates, winds should drop dramatically to light southerlies and temperatures reach -13.Friday: Mixed skies with light winds and temperatures around -15
Avalanche Summary
Isolated windslabs have released up to size 1.5.
Snowpack Summary
In isolated areas, up to 20cm of new snow has fallen. In areas with northerly winds, the new snow has been transported into reactive windslabs on south facing terrain (reverse loading).This new snow overlies significant snow depth and layer variabilities. Hard windslabs, hard pressed snow (windward slopes) and previous wind scour are all lightly buried. In more sheltered areas at and below treeline small surface hoar is buried and on south and west facing terrain the interface is a sun crust. The mid pack is well settled and strong. This overlies one or two crusts (location specific) with the higher crust being as shallow as 70cm below the surface. Concern lingers (unlikely) for triggering a deep slab avalanche in a shallow snowpack area.
Problems
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.
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.