Spectacular winter day in the mountains.
Weather Forecast
Spectacular day in the sun today; less fun but, equally spectacular in the shade! Light northerly winds, increasing pressure, blue skies and arctic temps through the week.
Snowpack Summary
Strong SW winds have built thin windslabs on all lee alpine slopes. Slab thickness varies from 20 to 50 cm. There is a weak bond between these new slabs and the hard slab below. The mid-pack to ground is weak and faceted.
Avalanche Summary
No reports of avalanches today.
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.
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.