With mid-storm conditions, today's best skiing will be in the trees!
Weather Forecast
We are in mid-storm conditions. 17cm of snow is forecast for today, 15cm for tonight, and 10cm for Friday. Freezing levels will rise rapidly this morning reaching 1400m. Ridge winds will be moderate from the SW with gusts to 60km/h. The atmospheric pressure is expected to rise on Saturday with a return to clear skies for the end of the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
15cm of new snow overnight was accompanied by moderate NE winds. The new snow overlies a persistent slab which in turn sits on a variety of surfaces down 40-50cm; sun crust on steep solar slopes, windslabs in the alpine and gully features, small surface hoar and facets. New snow will further destabilize this existing layer.
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday before the storm, skiers observed widespread whumpfing and cracking in the persistent slab layer in treeline areas. On steep rolling terrain, this layer has been initiated with ski cuts producing size 1 to 1.5 avalanches. With ongoing heavy precipitation, avalanche activity will increase today.
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.
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.