Incoming new snow will improve the skiing somewhat, hopefully without overloading the weak interfaces left in the wake of the December drought.
Weather Forecast
Returning to a more normal thermal structure, milder air in the valleys and colder air aloft. A Westerly flow aloft will bring a series of Pacific weather systems through our area for the next few days.Monday: Flurries. Accumulation: 5-10 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -4 °C. Ridge wind Light SW. Freezing level: 1500 metres.
Snowpack Summary
Exposed areas have pockets of wind slab covering variable drought interfaces - facets, surface hoar, sun and wind crusts. The upper snowpack is facetted and sugary in sheltered areas. The mid snowpack is generally supportive. Two buried crusts, one mid snowpack and one near the base, have the potential to become reactive with future loading.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
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.
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.