Some new snow in the forecast but ending by early Friday AM as the colder arctic air pushes in. If we do see some new snow we are looking at a bit of a jump in danger ratings over the next couple days - otherwise just getting colder!
Confidence
Good - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday
Weather Forecast
Snow fall amounts totalling 10+cm by Friday morning are in the forecast however little of what was forecast for Thursday has shown up yet. The arctic front will arrive early Friday and temps will drop and remain there for a few days. Expect lows in the -15 degree range. Only minor amounts of new snow are expected after the arctic front arrives. Winds in the forecast area will be in the light to moderate range out of the south-west.
Avalanche Summary
Minor sluffing in very steep terrain on north and east aspects due to wind action.
Snowpack Summary
General weakening of snowpack taking place due to strong temperature gradient. The Nov crust layer continues to deteriorate and recent field tests continue to produce compression test results in the HARD range.
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.