The snowpack was rapidly loaded over the past week and will need to time to adjust. Over the next few days the new snow will get it's first punch from the sun; often a trigger. Minimize your exposure to cornices and overhead avalanche terrain.
Weather Forecast
Light flurries are possible this morning, with strong ridgetop winds, and freezing levels possibly rising to 1500m today. We may see some clearing later today as a ridge of high pressure builds. On Thurs expect mostly clear skies, with the first punch of solar to the new snow, alpine temps of -1 and freezing levels rising to 1900m by Friday.
Snowpack Summary
Over 1m of snow fell in the last week, burying a surface hoar/graupel layer. Strong winds during the storm formed slabs in exposed areas at all elevations. Rain below 1300m formed a crust. The mid pack is well settled with the Nov28 surface hoar layer down around 2m where present. The facetted base is showing signs of strengthening.
Avalanche Summary
No new natural avalanches were observed yesterday. On Monday, a widespread natural cycle occurred with avalanches to size 3.5. A size 3.5 from Dispatchers Bowl traveled 400m down Connaught creek. Artillery control triggered size 3.0 to 3.5 avalanches and a size 4.0 off Mt Green that released down to the glacial ice depositing snow onto the highway.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.