The danger rating has risen due to loose dry avalanches which can run further than expected in steep terrain, especially in gullies where the sluffs can gain mass and travel far. Cold temps are the other big concern...be prepared for any delays! CJ
Weather Forecast
Continued light snow is expected for Friday night and Saturday morning with accumulations of 5-10 cm possible. Temperatures Friday night could be in the -27`C range with highs on Saturday near -17`C. After that the arctic high reestablishes itself with clear skies and continued cold temperatures through the New Year. Dress warm!!!
Snowpack Summary
The surface snow is facetting quickly with the cold temperatures. Some isolated thin, hard wind slabs observed in lee areas of the alpine. The Dec.15 layer of surface hoar (below 2100m) and hard surfaces or facets (depending on location) is down 20-30 cm. Below this is a generally supportive snow pack with multiple crusts, that is slowly weakening.
Avalanche Summary
Several observations Friday of natural or controlled loose dry avalanches up to size 1.5, running all the way to the run out zones after being initiated in steep terrain. These sluffs consist of loose surface facets and are gaining enough mass to easily push skiers and climbers around. A few very thin stubborn alpine wind slabs were also reported.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Problems
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.