New snow is coming tomorrow. Expect great skiing if we get the forecasted amounts.
Weather Forecast
We're expecting a storm to roll through tonight with snow starting by early morning. Overnight lows will fall to -6, and by tomorrow, they'll fall further to -10 at treeline. The first pulse of this storm will bring us 21cm of snow by late day tomorrow. Another pulse will follow on saturday, but it will only leave 5cm. The winds will spike early on in the storm and max out at 45km/hr.
Avalanche Summary
A couple of small, cornice triggered loose wet avalanches were noted today. Their exact age is unknown, but suspected in the last 36 hours.
Snowpack Summary
Freezing levels went very high today. One of the radio repeater sites recorded a temp of +4 by mid afternoon. Only high, true north aspects are escaping the heat and moist snow. Expect a widespread crust pretty much everywhere. It will be more pronounced at low elevations and/or solar aspects. The freeze thaw cycle is helping the upper snowpack consolidate and become stronger. The deeper layers are deep enough that they'll remain unchanged from the warming cycle. Cornices and wind lips have been collapsing lately as well.
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
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.