With heavy snow and high winds in the forecast, Sunday looks like a great day to enjoy the resort. Or stick to simple, low-angle terrain free of overhead hazard if you choose to venture into the backcountry.
Weather Forecast
TONIGHT: Heavy snow. Accumulation 30-40 cm. Ridge wind strong to extreme, south. Temperature -1. Freezing level 1000 m.SUNDAY: Heavy snow. Accumulation 35-45 cm. Ridge wind strong to extreme, south. Temperature -1. Freezing level 1000 m.MONDAY: Flurries. Accumulation 5-15 cm. Ridge wind light to moderate, southwest. Temperature -2. Freezing level 900 m.TUESDAY: Snow. Accumulation 20-30 cm. Ridge wind strong to extreme, south. Temperature -1. Freezing level 1100 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday explosive control work produced several size 1-1.5 avalanches ranging from 20-60 cm deep and failing within the recent storm snow.Friday, ski cutting produced size 1-1.5, storm snow releases in all steep terrain. Rapid loading and significant cornice development were also reported on Friday with professionals in the region commenting that conditions were changing dramatically during the day, and avalanche hazard increasing.
Snowpack Summary
Above 1000m about 60 cm of new snow has fallen with as much as 80-90 cm of new snow at higher elevations. This storm snow now covers a crust that was buried on January 17th. Below this crust the upper snowpack which consists of 90 cm of moist to wet snow and three prominent crusts (buried January 10th, January 8th and January 7th respectively). While these crust remain easily identifiable they have been unreactive in recent snowpack tests. The snowpack depth at 1000 m is now about 200 cm.
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.