Snowfall on Tuesday has given a boost to ski conditions but at the same time it has raised the stakes with the addition of more cohesive storm slabs. Wind action will make these slabs more susceptible to skier triggering over the next few days.
Weather Forecast
Cold overnight with lows to -20. Some clear periods overnight and winds on Wednesday in the moderate to strong range again. Daytime highs only around -17 degrees.
Avalanche Summary
A few loose dry sluffs could be seem emanating from steep rocky terrain on the fringes of the forecast area as the skies cleared but no new obs were made in the core forecast area due to obscured skies.
Snowpack Summary
Variable thickness 4F- 1F storm slabs have formed along ridgelines and in other lee features. Windward slopes are being quickly stripped bare and cornice growth has been enhanced with the combo of new snow and wind.
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 Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.