A strong crust from the weekends warm temps is making for fast travel and skittish skiing. Snowfall is in the forecast, ski quality and hazard levels will likely increase proportionally.
Weather Forecast
A low in the gulf of Alaska is causing a series of fronts to make their way inland Wednesday and Thursday. Snowfall accumulations could total up to 25 cm, accompanied by steady moderate W winds and freezing levels rising as high as 1650m (Cameron lake). A weak ridge Friday brings sunny breaks, overnight cooling and light N winds.
Snowpack Summary
A strong and supportive melt-freeze crust now caps the snowpack on all aspects into the alpine. Northerly aspects at upper elevations may still hold some well settled winter snow, including stubborn windslabs. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well consolidated with no notable shears and no recent activity to indicate a persistent weakness.
Avalanche Summary
No recent activity has been observed or reported. Several small loose wet avalanches occurred during the peak of the warming last weekend.
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.