Another storm will bring new snow and strong winds. The building storm slab will likely be reactive to human triggering.
Fresh snow and strong winds will create a reactive storm slab. Expect this to be most reactive in areas with wind loading like ridge top lee features. If triggered these avalanches may travel farther than expected on a buried crust.
With the cooler temps avalanche activity has slowed down. There were no new avalanches observed in the last few days.
A widespread, natural avalanche cycle occurred up to size 3.5 in Rogers Pass Thursday and Friday. Explosive avalanche testing also produced results up to size 4 on Friday afternoon.
Check out some of the excellent MIN Reports with pics from the recent avalanche cycle.
In the alpine, 100 - 150cm of recent snow has been redistributed by strong winds.
At treeline and below 10-20cms sits on a thick crust that has moist snow below. Another crust from early March is buried 60-140 cm deep.
The Feb 9 and Jan 26 surface hoar layers are now buried 150-210 cm deep. These layers have become less active with the colder temperatures.
The incoming storm will bring snow and gusting winds.
Tonight Cloudy with flurries. Snow: 1-2cms. Alpine high -4°C. Winds SW 15 to 55km/h. Freezing level (FZL) 1400m.
Tues Snow, 17cm. Alpine high -2°C. Wind S 20 gusting to 75km/h. FZL 1600m.
Wed Snow: 10cm. Alpine high -3°C. Wind SW 25-gusting to 100km/h. FZL 1600m
Thur Mainly cloudy w flurries. No precipitation. Alpine high -6°C. Wind SW 15 gusting 40km/h. FZL 1000m
