We are expecting the natural avalanche cycle to continue over the next 24hrs. Strongly encourage people to avoid all avalanche terrain at this time.
Weather Forecast
Forecasts are calling for an additional 30-50cm of snow over the next 24 hrs with warmer temps and high winds. Natural avalanches and human triggered avalanches are likely.
Avalanche Summary
Visibility was limited all day and forecasters never got a good look into most start zones. As a result, no avalanche activity was observed.
Snowpack Summary
15-20cm of snow has fallen over the past 24hrs in the alpine with associated strong winds. New windslabs are building in all open terrain that are reactive to skier traffic. These windslabs are also failing naturally. As the new snow falls the weak base will continue to be overloaded and we are expecting a natural avalanche cycle to begin over the next 24hrs. Friday will be a good day to avoid avalanche terrain.
Problems
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.
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.