New windslabs and surface sluffing are the main avalanche concerns right now. Hopefully the light winds forecast for the period will delay further slab growth. Good skiing remains in shaded areas following intense radiation today.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday- Light S-SW winds. Sunny periods in the AM with freeze level to 1700. Cloudy with Flurries afternoon.Wednesday- Light W winds. Mainly cloudy with flurries. Freeze level 1300m.Thursday- Light to Moderate W winds. Cooler temperatures with some clearing.
Snowpack Summary
20cm on Feb 16 interface comprised of suncrust steep solar aspects, rain crust to 1900m and windslab in open areas. New windslabs forming in exposed terrain TL and above with SW winds. New suncrusts forming today with strong solar input steep East and South slopes. Profiles today BTL showed weakening of the mid and lower snowpack with faceting.
Avalanche Summary
Widespread Loose Dry avalanches have been seen failing within the storm snow in mainly extreme terrain. Although most of these events could be called surface sluffs one notable event today ran a considerable distance and reached class 2 in size.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.