This relatively stagnant weather pattern will lead to little change in avalanche conditions. Good skiing at lower elevations. Be mindful of recently formed wind slabs and potential sluffing at higher elevations.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday will bring a mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation. Alpine temperatures will reach a high of -11 °C. Winds will be out of the west at 15 km/h. Similar conditions are expected Wednesday with a chance of light flurries on Thursday.
Avalanche Summary
One loose dry naturally triggered avalanche was observed today on a steep NW aspect initiating in the Alpine. This slide was a size 1.5 and ran for a significant distance.
Snowpack Summary
Highly variable new snow amounts in the past 24hrs ranging from 0 to 10cm. Recent storm snow totals now sit between 15 and 25cm and this snow remains low density except at upper elevations. Wind slabs are present in Alpine and upper Treeline elevations. These slabs are found in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge-top and only extend into Treeline in wind prone areas. Ski cutting produces isolated cracking in these wind slabs. The Dec 4th persistent weak layer is found primarily below 2100m in the forecast region and currently appears dormant due to the lack of slab properties above this layer.
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.