Deep storm snow with strong winds and a weak old snow surface has elevated avalanche hazard! Limit your exposure to avalanche terrain.
Weather Forecast
The next pulse of the storm will bring an additional 10 cm of snow today. The alpine high should reach -8 deg with winds from the Southwest 25 gusting to 80 kph. Wednesday should bring a break from the snowfall then another 10cm is expected Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
50cm+ of storm snow in the last 48hrs and winds to 85kph have built storm slab and windslabs at all elevations. This new significant snow load sits on a facetted, weak snowpack. We're calling this new snow interface the Dec 18th layer which is a mix of surface hoar and facets. As the new snow settles into a slab the Dec 18th will become reactive
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday we observed a widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 3.0. These were both slabs and loose avalanches reaching well into the runouts. Whumphing and shooting cracks from ski tips were also observed by groups that were out skiing. With continued snowfall the slab will remain touchy &natural avalanche activity will continue today.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.
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.