Ice climbers, start your New Year's resolution early by bundling up and getting out on the ice. Keep your fingers and toes warm.
Weather Forecast
The weather forecast is calling for increasing clouds through Thursday with snow beginning on Thursday afternoon and continuing into the weekend. Temperatures will be gradually warming (comparatively speaking) to around -10 for the daytime highs on the weekend. Winds will shift to a Westerly direction overnight.
Snowpack Summary
North winds are forming new wind slabs by reverse loading S-SE aspects near ridge crests and cross-loaded gully features. A Shallow low density upper snowpack sits on a strong, supportive mid-pack which is bridging a weaker facet base.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity reported in the forecast area.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Thursday
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.
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.