Thursdays snowfall should provide a much needed reset of the ski conditions. Be wary of the potential for natural avalanche activity mid-storm, and give the new snow some time to settle before pushing your terrain choices. JH
Weather Forecast
Thursday: A warm front brings heavy snowfall (up to 25cm), strong to extreme SW wind, and warming temperatures (freezing level to 2000m by mid afternoon).Friday: A high over the southern rockies/prairies will stabilize conditions, giving sunny breaks, light winds and ongoing warm temps.Saturday: The high persists, with ongoing warm sunny weather.
Snowpack Summary
Heavy snowfall forecast for Thursday will fall on 3 cm of snow over a strong crust which is widespread into the lower alpine. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well consolidated, and is made up of a series of crusts at lower elevations and on solar aspects. Winter conditions persist only on northerly aspects in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
There has been no new avalanche activity since last weekends rain event.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Problems
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.