One more day of frigid temperatures before things change over the weekend. Forecasted snow, wind, and warming temperatures will likely lead to rising avalanche hazard. Use caution as we emerge from cryostasis.
Watch out for "facetlanches" on steep rocky terrain as the cold weather rots the snowpack. The weak nature of our snowpack makes it possible for these avalanches to gouge deeper in the snowpack and gain mass.
This problem includes our prominent facet surface hoar layer down 30-40cm. The lower snow pack is weak and faceted due to consistent cold temperatures. Any avalanches initiating in the mid or upper snowpack will likely step down to the "deep" layer on or near the ground.
Below tree line hazard is rated low but caution is advised in isolated steep open slopes where wind affected stiffer snow may be present on top of the weak layers described above.
No new avalanches have been observed or reported in the last couple days, but very few people have been out in the cold weather.
Continued cold weather is forming surface facets and generally weakening the snowpack. A persistent weak layer is down 25-35cm specific to tree line and below in sheltered areas. The bottom of the snowpack is weak consisting of basal facets with pockets of depth hoar. The snowpack height ranges from 40-100cm. Snowpack is unsupportive tree line and below.
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: High -13 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday
Periods of snow.
Accumulation: 14 cm.
Alpine temperature: Low -12 °C, High -6 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Sunday
Periods of snow.
Accumulation: 13 cm.
Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -2 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.
Freezing level: 1800 metres.
