An active weather system arriving this afternoon will cause the avalanche hazard to increase. Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from snow, rain and wind.
Weather Forecast
A pacific frontal system arrives mid-afternoon bringing intense precipitation into the evening with 10-20cm expected overnight. Winds SW 30 km/h with gusts to 70 km/h, freezing level at 1600m, alpine temp -5. Stormy weather continues with 11cm on Saturday, 7cm on Sunday, 9cm on Monday and 8cm on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
8cm of new snow fell overnight on a supportive crust between 1500-2000m. Moist snow below 1500m. At higher elevations there is approximately 20 cm dry snow with isolated wind slabs. Well-settled mid and lower snowpack with the Mar 15 crust complex down 70-90cm on solar aspects.
Avalanche Summary
A loose moist avalanche was observed late yesterday afternoon from a steep solar aspect below tree line.
Confidence
Timing of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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 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.