Watch for pockets of surface windslab in the alpine. Avoid steep unsupported terrain features.
Weather Forecast
Temperatures continue to moderate today as warm Pacific air moves in. Today, an alpine high of -7C with ridgetop winds SW 15-25km/h are forecast with a rising freezing level coming up to 1000m. A strong SW flow of warm Pacific moisture is on route starting Monday bringing 2 to 3 days of heavy snowfall. Watch for rapidly rising avalanche danger.
Snowpack Summary
Strong N'ly winds formed widespread windslab in the alpine over New Years. More recently thin pockets of surface slab formed and occasionally have been reactive on unsupported features. In protected areas you may find faceted soft snow. Surface hoar is well developed in the valley bottoms and shifting to tiny needle like forms at higher elevations.
Avalanche Summary
Five new slides were observed in the highway corridor yesterday up to size 2.5. These slides were generally running out of steep unskiable terrain. No new natural activity was observed by field staff in the back country yesterday.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system 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.