Up to 30cm of new snow up high (above 2100m) around the forecast region, forming a touchy storm slab on lee aspects. Winter is temporarily back in the mountains.
Weather Forecast
Weather models tend to agree that we are in for more of the same wet and cool weather for the next several days. Snow will continue to fall in the alpine and whipped around by moderate winds from the west.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 30 cm of new snow in the alpine today is sitting on a supportive melt-freeze crust/mid-pack. Uncertain how well it is bonding to crusts. Deep weak layers dormant when temperatures are below freezing but may be triggered as temperatures rise and increased load. Snowpack is weak below tree line and isothermal in many locations.
Avalanche Summary
Widespread storm slabs forming in the alpine with this new dump of snow. Numerous loose wet avalanches expected with rain at tree line and below,
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 Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.