Natural avalanche activity has tapered off significantly in the last 24 hours. That said, human triggering remains likely, and we will probably see the odd random large natural.
Weather Forecast
Today will be cold and clear and hopefully the winds will subside; winds have been strongest at valley bottom with the Arctic outflow upon us. Temperatures may warm up to -18 in the sun today, winds are forecast to be light from the NE. No significant change in the weather is expected until Thursday...
Snowpack Summary
At treeline we received upwards of 70cm of storm snow over the weekend with strong Sth winds and mild temps. The storm snow is sitting over the Jan 31st crust on solar asp at TL and BTL. In the Alpine, the storm snow overlies old dormant wind slabs. Reverse loading over the past 24 hours will have relocated the storm snow at TL and in the Alpine.
Avalanche Summary
Over the weekend Grizzly slide path in the Connaught creek ran to size 3.5 annihilating the skin track just prior to skiers arriving. Frequent Flyer did the same and is now probably reloaded. Vague report of a large natural off of Corbin pk yesterday. Natural activity has tapered off significantly after the impressive cycle over the weekend.
Confidence
Due to the quality of field observations
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.