Recent snowfall has overloaded the persistent weak layer causing a large avalanche cycle over the weekend. Natural avalanche activity has decreased but human triggering will remain likely.
See this MCR for a detailed avalanche summary.
40-80 cm of storm snow has been redistributed by extreme Westerly winds. Wind slabs have formed in all exposed terrain and may become more ractive with solar warming. Avalanches in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Two persistent weak layers are buried down ~100 and ~130 cm. New snow combined with extreme winds has overloaded these weak layers triggering large, destructive avalanches. These weak layers are also still reactive to human triggering.
Natural avalanche activity has slowed down but explosive testing was producing up to size 3.5 avalanches on Sunday.
On Friday, numerous natural and explosive triggered avalanches up to size 4 running into valley bottom.
See the following link to a recent Mountain Conditions Report.
A crust has formed on the surface on solar aspects. Approx. 70 cm of recent snowfall has been redistributed by extreme southerly creating wind slabs on the surface.
The Feb 9 surface hoar (SH) is down 90-120 cm and remains reactive in snowpack testing. The Feb 9 SH sits over a crust on solar aspects.
The Jan 26th layer, composed of surface hoar/facets/crust, is buried down 130-160 cm. The largest surface hoar is preserved in sheltered areas below treeline.
Sunshine until another frontal sysem arrives on Tuesday.
Tonight Cloudy with clear periods. Low -5°C. Wind SW 25 gusting to 50km/h. Freezing level (FZL) 600m.
Mon - A mix of sun and cloud. High -1°C. Winds SW 30 gusting to 55km/hr. FZL 1800m.
Tues Flurries, 9cm. High -3. Wind SW 25 gusting to 60.
Wed - Flurries, 7cm. High -3°C. Wind light gustingto 35 km/hr. FZL 1600m.
