Winds were calm again on Wednesday but that will soon change as the next system begins to approach the forecast region. Light snow and moderate westerly winds forecast for Thursday.
Weather Forecast
Light snow is forecast to fall throughout the day on Thursday as the next system begins to approach the forecast region. Winds will begin to increase into the moderate range out of the west so we may see some additional snow transport at higher elevations. Temperatures will still be cold at -15C.
Avalanche Summary
A few small loose dry avalanches up to sz 1 out of steep unskiable terrain on northern aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Another day with limited winds. A moderate sheer persists at the storm snow interface down 20-30cm throughout the region and a second sheer persists down 60cm beneath a previous windslab. There was some moist snow on solar aspects later in the day on Wednesday.
Problems
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.
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.