More new snow brings the 72 hour total to around 40cm in the Parker Ridge area. Expect drifting on the highway and wind slab formation above treeline.
Weather Forecast
Partly cloudy skies with light scattered snowfall for the weekend, possibly clearing towards the afternoon on Sunday. Temps to stay mild, with predominant winds light westerly. Freezing levels to remain below 1000m.
Snowpack Summary
5-10cm of new snow brings the total snowfall to 45cm since Nov 20.Two separate wind events (Nov21 M-NW and Nov23 M-SE) suggest wind slab formation on a variety of aspects in the alpine and at exposed areas at treeline. Lots of snow still available for transport.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous natural size 1-3 observed in the last 48 hours on a variety of aspects in the alpine, mostly on cross loaded gully features. Lots of sluffing from steep rocky terrain.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday
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.
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.