Confidence
Fair - Due to limited field observations
Weather Forecast
Thursday: Trace amounts of new snow / Light west winds / Freezing level at 1200mFriday: Clearing throughout the day / Light northwest winds / Freezing level at surfaceSaturday: Mainly clear skies / Light north winds / Freezing level at surface
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Generally light accumulations overlie a variety of surfaces which include: wind slab at higher elevations, settled storm snow or spotty surface hoar in more sheltered terrain, and a crust on previously sun-exposed slopes. A variable interface buried on Jan 23 is down about 20-40cm. In most locations it appears to be well bonded; however, buried surface hoar (up to 20mm) has been found in isolated parts of the North Elk valley. This will be something to watch as the overlying slab develops. The lower snowpack is generally well-settled.
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.