Very touchy avalanche conditions currently exist and a natural avalanche cycle is occurring. Be very conservative in your terrain choices.
Weather Forecast
Another 5cm+ are possible before the storm finally peters out late Sunday night. Monday will bring a mix of sun and cloud with occasional light flurries. Winds will be light and temperatures could drop to -18 in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
Visibility was extremely limited today, but field teams did observe a size 2.0 naturally triggered avalanche on an E aspect on Mt. Rundle while inspecting HWY 742 this morning. It was too obscure to identify the start zone elevation of this slide, but it did run full path. HWY 742 remains closed from the Mt. Shark Road to the Grassi Lakes Trailhead pending avalanche control work on Monday. Estimated time of re-opening is late Monday afternoon with low confidence.
Snowpack Summary
15 to 20cm of snow in the past 24hrs, with storm snow totals now near 50 to 60cm. Extensive storm slab development continues in alpine and treeline areas. Slabs are very sensitive to human triggering and a natural avalanche cycle is occurring.
Problems
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.
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.
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.