Identify features of concern where wind slabs will likely be more prone to triggering, such as convex, steep and unsupported features.
Wind will continue to build fresh slabs where it finds loose snow. Recent wind slabs have been most reactive where they overlie a thin crust. Hard and stubborn slabs can still be triggered on steep, convex and unsupported features.
MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods / Moderate southwest wind / Low temperature of -5 / Freezing level at valley bottom.
TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Gusty increasingly strong west wind / High temperature -4 C / Freezing level at 1000 m.
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with flurries / Moderate northwest wind gusting 50 km/h / High temperature -4 C / Freezing level at 800 m.
THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southwest wind / High temperature -4 C / Possible temperature inversion / Freezing level at 1000 m.
No new avalanches were reported in the last 24h.
On Saturday, wind slab avalanches to size 1.5 were reactive to riders and explosives triggered avalanches to size 2, avalanches were 20-40 cm deep and found in lee areas from westerly winds. Some small avalanches that were naturally triggered by falling cornices have also been reported.
Winds have stiffened 20-35 cm recent snow in open areas at treeline and throughout the alpine. Gusty winds may have loaded terrain further down slope than usual. Cool overnight temperatures have produced a surface crust up to 1500 m and on steep solar slopes. See our field team photos from Anzac on Sunday.
The recent snow covered a thin crust up to 1650 m, this was the suspected surface in recent wind slab avalanches. Another crust is found down 70 cm, but has not shown recent reactivity. The lower snowpack is generally strong and bonded, with one or multiple crusts near the ground. We suspect the lower snowpack could be weak in shallow rocky wind-affected slopes east of the divide.
