The snowpack is generally stable. Watch for solar triggered surface slides on steep South facing terrain if prolonged sun occurs today.
Weather Forecast
The forecast calls for cloudy with sunny periods and a trace of precipitation. An alpine high temp of -13C is expected for today. Sunny with cloudy periods, light winds and -15C is the forecast for the next few days.
Snowpack Summary
A dusting of new snow fell overnight. 15cm of settled snow resides on old wind slabs in the alpine. In sheltered areas the recent snow is covering surface hoar and facets. A crust on steep solar aspects makes for difficult traveling conditions, both uphill and down. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong. A dusting of new snow .
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed in the last 24hrs. Thursday three size 1.5-2.0 natural solar triggered avalanches observed in S facing paths in the highway corridor E of Rogers Pass. A size 3 likely cornice triggered slide occurred in the past week off the E face of the S ridge of Mt Bonney. This was a deep slab release on an unsupported feature.
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.