Weather Forecast
Synopsis: A frontal system is moving across the area bringing generally light snowfall Monday night and into Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday, a ridge of high pressure dominates the region.Tuesday: Around 5 cm new snow, with SW winds gusting to 40km/h at ridgetop. Freezing level around 800m.Wednesday: Lingering flurries in the morning, then clearing. Freezing level around 600m. Moderate NW winds in the morning, diminishing through the day.Thursday: Dry and sunny. Freezing level 800m in the afternoon. Light NW winds.
Avalanche Summary
There were reports of loose snow avalanches on solar aspects to size 1.5 and cornice releases on northerly aspects up to size 3 over the weekend during warm weather.
Snowpack Summary
Fresh wind slabs are likely forming in alpine areas in response to new snow and wind. Buried surfaces of concern from the previous storm (the Feb. 3 interface) comprise mostly sun crusts. The new snow is bonding reasonably well at this interface in most locations with the highest concern being the bond to crusts on south and west facing terrain. The January 23rd interface (crusts, facets and surface hoar crystals) lingers in isolated locations. This layer seems to be rounding and bonding under current conditions. The most recent report of activity on this layer was a size 2.0 avalanche from Feb 6th. The mid pack is generally well settled. Total snow depths vary from around 400 cm in the south to around 180 cm in the north.
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.