Cold temperatures! Moderate to strong N-E winds are forming reverse loaded windslab. Be cautious and take the time to evaluate the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
Today a mix of sun and cloud, NE-E winds to 25km/h and an alpine high temperature of -20C, that will feel bitterly cold. A mix of sun and cloud and continued cold with daytime highs of -20C accompanied by light N-E winds to start the new work week.
Snowpack Summary
Over 15 hours of strong N-NE winds are reverse loading storm snow along ridgelines and exposed terrain at and above treeline. Expect widespread wind effect. On solar aspects, a well developed crust is buried 40cm. Persistent weak layers from January and December are now buried 150-200cm.
Avalanche Summary
A couple size 2 slides recorded in the highway corridor yesterday. Also one slide heard but not observed off the north aspect of Cheops in the Connaught Creek drainage.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
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.
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.