10cm of new snow today and good skiing on N aspects! With the forecast snow, warm temps and strong SW winds the avalanche hazard will rise rapidly over the next two days. Stick to conservative terrain, and watch for overhead hazard!
Weather Forecast
Tuesday - Winds shifting to Strong out of the SW, freezing levels rising to 1800m and up to 25mm of precipitation! Wednesday - Strong SW winds, warm overnight with freezing levels up to 2000m and an additional 5mm of precipitation. Thursday - Strong SW winds, warm overnight with freezing levels to 2300m and an additional 5mm of precipitation
Snowpack Summary
10cm of new snow overlies sun crust on solar aspects, and thin wind slabs in isolated areas near ridge crests. Surface snow sluffs easily in steep terrain up to size 1. In thinner snow pack areas facets are present in the lower snowpack and may be a concern with rapid loading or warm temperatures.
Avalanche Summary
Surface snow sluffing out of steep terrain today up to size 1.5. The last several days have seen numerous loose wet avalanches on steep solar aspects up to size 2, and loose dry avalanches on steep N aspects up to size 2. With sun and warm temperatures a couple of cornices have triggered slabs out of extreme terrain in the last week.
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.
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.