Continuous storms add load, keeping avalanche danger elevated. Avoid avalanche terrain.
Warm temperatures, strong SW winds, and a fresh load of precipitation will only add to the touchy slab (sitting on top of the Nov 22 layer), which will become deeper, wider, and more destructive.
Continued wind and snowfall will keep dry loose avalanches ongoing above tree line. Below tree line, the same loose-snow problem could shift to wet loose avalanches due to rain.
Warm temperatures and ongoing precipitation will build storm slabs, while strong SW winds actively redistribute snow into wind slabs in lee terrain at higher elevations.
On a road patrol along Highway 93S, steep chutes on Mt. Wardle were observed to have cycled. Obscured visibility limited observations, and no additional avalanches were noted. Despite this, it is anticipated that an avalanche cycle is underway in response to the storm. Lake Louise triggered 2 healthy size 2.5s in previously unworked terrain. Sunshine triggered up to 10 size 2 persistent slabs running on the the Nov 13 layer.
Strong SW winds and new snow continue to build thick slabs in the alpine. Warm air and rain to 1600 m are soaking last week’s storm snow (30–60 cm). A 60–100 cm slab now sits over the Nov 22 facet layer, which is particularly touchy where it is associated with a sun or temperature crust that persists in some alpine areas. Lower down, the Nov 13 rain crust extends up to roughly 2100–2300 m.
We continue to get worked over by weather. Warm temperatures and rain will reach up to 1600m, with snow above, where temperatures drop to around -5 °C in the alpine. Expect around 10 cm today and up to 30 cm by Wednesday, with unrelenting strong SW winds through Monday and Tuesday.
