The timing of strong winds mid-week is uncertain. Watch for the hazard to increase rapidly if significant snow transport is evident.
Weather Forecast
Monday: Cloudy. Flurries morning and evening. Light Easterly winds. Treeline temps: High -10, Low -16.Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Light Flurries. Moderate W winds beginning mid morning, trending Strong by the evening. Treeline temps: High -10, Low -13.Wednesday: Cloudy. Light Snow (up to 5cm). Strong-Extreme W winds. Treeline temps: High -9, Low -11.
Snowpack Summary
5-10cm of new snow are burying fresh Wind Slabs in N and E lees. Further Wind Slab development is expected midweek. A melt-freeze crust from mid Feb now buried up to 60cm deep, is widespread below treeline and extends into the alpine on solar aspects, the bond at this layer is currently strong but may weaken with ongoing cold temps in the forecast.
Avalanche Summary
A Cornice fall was observed on Saturday on a steep alpine N aspect. The chunks of cornice entrained enough loose snow to produce a Large avalanche. Nearby operations also reported skier triggering of small fresh Wind Slabs on Saturday.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems 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.
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.