Merry Christmas!!
Santa has brought a sac full of sensitive wind slabs in the alpine and open tree line all aspects; some in places you may not expect! Keep this in mind when choosing holiday objectives.
Previous NW and present SW winds in the alpine and open tree line continue to develop wind slabs. Caution as these freshly built wind slabs are reactive and waiting for a trigger.
Heads up climbers, There is a lot of overhead hazard above you at the moment.
Be cautious of thick to thin snowpack areas being likely trigger locations. The wind slabs have the potential to step down to the weakness at the base of the snowpack.
No Na activity reported today. Field team reporting whumphing and shooting cracks 2300m on southerly aspect Icefields area yesterday - suspect sensitive wind slab up to 60cm deep continuing to develop on specific terrain features all aspects at treeline and above.
A north wind event on Dec 22 loaded southerly lees; present strong to extreme SW winds are reloading northerly terrain with last weeks 40cm of storm snow. The new snow sits upon a facet layer with isolated surface hoar sheltered areas TL and below. Midpack is generally supportive with a weaker base of facets and depth hoar. Avg depth is 65-160cm.
A mix of sun and cloud and a chance for isolated flurries Friday. Scattered flurries on Saturday with up to 5cm possible. Continued isolated flurries on Sunday.
Ridgetop winds will remain moderate to strong from the southwest on Friday; expect decreasing values on Saturday.
Temperature will be seasonal with freezing level remaining at valley bottom.
