Continued warming has helped create surface storm slabs which are failing naturally and from skier/rider traffic, especially at and below Tree-line.
Be extra cautious on South through West aspects, where there is a sun-crust down 40-70cm that has been reactive to skier/rider traffic.
Recent snow, accompanied by variable wind and mild temps, has created a soft slab that is most reactive near ridgelines and on convex slopes at lower elevations. Above Tree-line these storm slabs are present in lee features and a bit more stubborn to initiate.
A field team was able to ski cut a few convexities on solar aspects the last few days, producing up to sz 1.5 soft slabs running 30-40cm deep on the Jan 3 melt-freeze crust. These slabs were more reactive below Tree-line.
Several natural avalanches up to sz 2-2.5 from steep terrain were observed from Macdonald. Audible rumbles were heard from Cheops.
Near neighbours are also reporting human-triggering of a soft slab, ~30-50cm deep, on unsupported rolls/features.
Warm temps and 30cm of settling storm snow are creating a soft storm slab on top of variable wind effect in open terrain at/above Tree-line, and faceted snow in sheltered areas below Tree-line.
A sun crust (Jan 3), down 50cm and most prominent at and below Tree-line on S-SW aspects, has been the failure plane for recent human triggered avalanches.
The Dec 1 surface hoar layer is down ~110cm and is decomposing.
Flurries, mild temps, and light to moderate winds for the next few days. Freezing levels (FZL) remain above 1000m.
Tonight: Cloudy, flurries, trace snow, Alp low -6°C, light SW winds, 1300m FZL
Thurs: Flurries, 5cm, Alp high -6°C, mod SW winds, 1400m FZL
Fri: Sun/cloud, isolated flurries, trace snow, Alp high -6°C, moderate SW winds, 1400m FZL
Sat: Flurries, 5-10cm, Alp high -3°C, light S winds, 1600m FZL
