After a brief respite, the icebox returns on Friday. Bundle up if you are heading out!
Weather Forecast
Friday: Continued upslope snowfall will bring a total of 10cm of storm snow moderate NE windsSaturday: Under the arctic influence with an alpine high of -28. Clear skies and light E windSunday: Alpine high -21, Light NE winds
Snowpack Summary
A couple centimeters of new snow has covered a variety of wind affected surfaced at all elevations including windslabs on all aspects in the Alpine and at Treeline. The midpack is generally strong in thick snowpack locations, and is bridging weak basal facets.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed on a field trip to Cameron Lake on Thursday.
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable
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.
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.