The arctic air will clear out and temps will rise but winds will rise as well so we can look forward to new soft slabs forming along ridge tops - there is still some loose dry snow available for wind transport.
Weather Forecast
The arctic ridge is weakening and warmer air will begin to push in from the west. A few cm on new snow each day until Friday but no appreciable accumulations.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity observed on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
Snow survey flight today with 4 profiles completed....heavily faceted snowpack in areas below treeline with Nov crust still evident in some locations. A mix of hard windslab from last weeks winds and thin softslabs from the storm snow later in the week. The Jan 6 interface still showing up in compression tests in the hard range down 30-40+cm. Old surface hoar found on this interface at a sheltered location at 2200m near the divide.
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.
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.