Upwards of 70cm of storm snow now and the southerly winds are in the moderate range. Expect touchy avalanche conditions. Make conservative terrain choices.
Weather Forecast
A warm Pacific storm continues to dump storm snow on the forecast area while cold air hangs in the valley bottoms. The storm is expected to come to an end by Wednesday morning with the warm air dropping down to valley bottom elevations. Another 10-15cm of storm snow is expected today along with rising freezing levels.
Snowpack Summary
We have received 65cm of storm snow since New Year. Moderate southerly winds are redistributing this snow onto alpine lee and cross-loaded features. Warming temperatures with the possibility of above freezing temperatures to 1900m should result in a rapidly increasing avalanche danger.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous size 2 to 2.5 avalanches with the occasional size 3 avalanche along the highway corridor. Skiers, sluff management will be important on steeper features at and below treeline. At and above treeline expect new storm slabs and always keep in mind the Dec 17th weak layer which will be getting overloaded by this large storm.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain
Problems
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.
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.