Weather Forecast
Unfortunately the ridge of high pressure will continue to block hope of any significant snow this week. Today expect mainly cloudy with no precipitation, an alpine high of -10*C and light winds. Thurs and Friday will be cloudy and although we may see some isolated flurries, they will only bring a trace of snow.
Snowpack Summary
~40cm of snow from last weeks storm is settling and is generally bonding. In some areas it overlies surface hoar and will be more reactive. Cooler temps are helping to soften the upper slab, improving snow quality. Recent snowpack tests generally indicate that the snowpack is stubborn to triggering, however it is weakest a low elevations.
Avalanche Summary
Recent natural avalanche activity has been limited to steep unskiable terrain such as off Mt Macdonald. However, there have been size 2.5 avalanches observed from this type of terrain regularly with avalanches running onto fans. Sluffing when skiing/riding steep terrain has also been observed.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
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.