A lull between storms, be conservative in your route finding and decision making. Avoid exposing your group to overhead hazard.
Weather Forecast
We are between storms at the moment but the low off the coast of Alaska will bring in another one this afternoon and into tonight with moderate snow amounts and increasing westerly winds. Temperatures are expected to remain mild until tomorrow when there will be a cooling trend with more clear weather.
Snowpack Summary
55 to 60cm of storm snow sits over a variety of surfaces from December 8th like surface hoar lower down, facets and variable wind slabs at higher elevations. The mid and lower snow packs are faceted but have not been observed to have the typical weakness associated with this.
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday, widespread natural cycle producing numerous avalanches to size 3.5 in the highway corridor and in the backcountry. Big avalanches in Connaught Creek were reported; Grizzly slide path, frequent flyer, and paths from Cheops are ran large. Artillery control in the highway corridor yesterday produced many avalanches to size 3.5.
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.
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.