While it may be cool in valley, alpine temps are forecasted to be above zero today!! Pay attention to overhead hazards such as cornice or sun exposed start zones
Weather Forecast
A massive temperature spike is forecasted today with freezing levels going up to 3600m. Mtn top temps will get up to +2 deg! with valley bottoms remaining generally mild. The good news is freezing levels will come down to 1700-1900m for the later part of the week and approximately 25cm of new snow is forecast by Saturday.
Snowpack Summary
Yesterdays warm temps is promoted rapid settlement of the storm snow. Above 1950m a thin crust formed over widespread windslab, which will very likely break down this morning and the surface snow should become moist.January 4 Surface hoar persistent weak layer is down 90-130cm with today's skyrocketing temps this layer could become more reactive!
Avalanche Summary
Two new avalanches were observed yesterday associated with the start of the warming trend. Both size 2 from 1800-2200m SZ's. With the very warm temps today expect a widespread loose wet avalanche cycle, especially on southerly aspects if the sun pokes out. With the added heat we may see the deeper layers become reactive producing large avalanches
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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 Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.