Cold temperatures may make newly-formed cornices brittle and easier to trigger. Watch for the impact of the sun on steep, southern aspects today.
Weather Forecast
Cold and clear today. Alpine high of -10*C, light ridge-top winds from the east, and plenty of sunshine. A system moves through tonight, bringing flurries Wed/Thurs that amount to 15-20cm. Temp's will warm up considerably, with freezing levels forecasted to rise to 1800m on Wed. Winds will be moderate from the SW.
Snowpack Summary
Recent snowfall has been redistributed in the alpine by moderate SW winds. As a result, soft windslabs and wind-rows exist at alpine and tree-line lee areas. Persistent weak layers from December are buried deep in the snowpack and need a large trigger to wake up. Cornices did grow and are present along ridge crests.
Avalanche Summary
No natural avalanche activity was observed yesterday. A field team in the Dome Glacier area found soft windslab at upper elevations, stubborn/unreactive to ski-cutting.
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.