New snow has resurrected our spring snowpack. Enjoy the long weekend! JH
Weather Forecast
Saturday a ridge of high pressure passes over our area giving clear skies, light winds from the west and freezing levels as high as 1800m.Sunday a "cold" low moves inland. Giving increasing cloudiness, moderate to strong SW wind, light precipitation and lowering freezing levels through Monday. Total snowfall accumulations will be 3-5cm.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20cm of settling new snow overlies a supportive melt-freeze crust which extends into the alpine on all aspects. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well consolidated with no notable shears and no recent activity to indicate a persistent weakness.
Avalanche Summary
No new activity has been observed, suspect that some small loose snow and storm slab avalanches have occurred as a result of the storm.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
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.