Variability in the storm slab bond to old snow surfaces is making snow stability harder to predict. Be alert to signs of snowpack instability.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Sporadic bands of flurries will travel through the park today bringing light precipitation. Ridge top winds will shift from southerly to westerly and will remain in the moderate range. There will be a break in the precipitation tonight with more snow on the way Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
60cm+ of storm snow in the past week which in some locations is bonding well and other locations is still susceptible to human triggering. The storm snow has been accompanied by moderate to strong S winds aiding in the formation of storm slabs through all three elevation bands. The mid February persistent weak layers down 70cm+ is still a concern.
Avalanche Summary
Two new slides in the highway corridor to size 2.5. A flight into the NE ridge of Ursus Minor showed widespread avalanche activity during the storm cycle with size 3 slides off the north sides of 8812 and Ursus Major. The most interesting slide was a soft slab at treeline, 500m wide, 30-40cm deep and ran 200-300m and likely occurred on Monday.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain