Pay attention to overhead hazards such as cornices which may trigger persistent weak layers resulting in large avalanches.
Weather Forecast
Mainly cloudy today wit ha chance of some sunny breaks. Alpine temps should warm to -1C with moderate south winds maintaining a cooler surface. Freezing levels are expected to be up to 2000m today. Precipitation in the form of snow at higher elevations is expected to begin tonight and continue through the weekend. Total accumulations of 30cm.
Snowpack Summary
20-30cm of storm snow from last weekend is forming soft slab in the immediate lee of ridges in the alpine. Field tests from earlier in the week were producing resistant planar results in the top 60cm. Solar aspects have a temperature crust up into the alpine. Protected N'ly aspects have good quality powder skiing, sluff management may be required.
Avalanche Summary
One size 3 natural cornice triggered slide in Crossover path yesterday in the highway corridor. Two other smaller slides were observed on solar aspects along the highway. Field team skied steeper N'ly aspects off of Glacier Crest and the Ravens. Both locations resulted in 0.5 surface sluffs from initial turns on the slopes.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system 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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.