At the time of writing, natural activity has been limited to a few large avalanches.
If avalanche slopes don't run overnight, they'll look tantalizing as it clears on Saturday afternoon, but will remain ripe for human triggering.
The Jan 29th interface is buried up to 80cm deep - and is likely to trigger on open slopes without previous activity.
New snow is making it difficult to assess which slopes have avalanched, avoid avalanche terrain unless you have this knowledge.
Expect loose dry avalanches in steep terrain that is sheltered from the wind.
These have the potential to step/gouge down to the January 29th interface and and gain significant mass.
New snow fell as low density powder at the start of the storm, and became stiffer as the winds and temperatures increased. This is a perfect recipe for storm slabs.
Unsettled weather persists as the frontal system exits our area on Saturday.
Tonight: Snow (10cm). Alpine low -9*C. Moderate, gusting extreme, West ridgetop winds
Sat: Isolated flurries. High -8*C. Light W wind
Sun: Mix of sun and cloud. Low -6*C, High -2*C. Mod SW wind
Mon: Sunny periods. Low -9*C, High -2*C. Mod SW wind
Up to 35cm fresh storm snow by Saturday morning, combined with strong West wind, will load lees with fresh storm slabs. This makes the total 50-80cm on the drought interfaces from Jan 29th - surface hoar (5-15mm) on sheltered/shady slopes, wind effect in exposed areas, and a suncrust on solar aspects. The Dec 1 crust/facet combo is down 1.5-2.5m.
With only 10cm and mod winds, there were a few large avalanches above the Highway today.
Weds: control in Cougar Corner and Abott produced several size 2 slab avalanches.
Tues: a crew easily ski cut sz 1-1.5 slab avalanches on Northerly slopes.
Mon: widespread natural activity occurred at all elevations - storm slabs failing on the Jan 29th layr.
