A few cm of new snow have freshened things up in sheltered areas but wind exposed areas will still feel a bit firm especially with the cold temperatures. A bit more snow tonight will help and the warmer temperatures forecast for next week will too!
Weather Forecast
Friday remained cold with new 5cm overnight and light winds and trace amounts accumulating through the day. A few more cm are expected overnight before clearing starts again Saturday. Temperatures will warm slowly through the weekend becoming almost warm Monday while winds will remain light westerly winds at ridge top through Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
5cm of new snow now buries isolated pockets of wind slab in exposed ALP & TL areas sitting on an old snow interface of facets, sun crust, wind effect, or surface hoar. 3 crusts extend into the lower limits of the alpine and are sitting dormant in the snowpack, the Nov 24 crust is providing mid-pack strength over the lower Oct 31 crust and facets.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported or observed along the parkway.Explosive control at the local hill on Christmas Eve produced a few small avalanches from isolated pockets of wind slab.
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.