Up to 25cm of new snow has fallen! Watch for rising temps and increasing winds that could build this snow into a reactive slab.
Weather Forecast
Another 10 cm is forecasted to fall today and into Thursday morning. Winds are forecasted to be in the light range from the south today but gusts are possible to 35km/hr and the temps are rising, freezing level could get up to 1450m this afternoon.
Snowpack Summary
In the alpine up to 30 cm of new snow buries the January 4th interface. This layer is most notably surface hoar in protected areas, sun crust on steep S - SW aspects and loose facets at treeline and below. With relatively light wind this new snow remains unconsolidated but with increasing temps and wind this could create a more reactive slab
Avalanche Summary
Numerous avalanches up to size 2 were observed from very steep cliffy terrain yesterday. All these avalanches were storm slabs within the 20 cm of new snow running on the old recrystallized surface.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is 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.