The natural avalanche cycle is over but human triggered avalanches are still likely. Continue to practice conservative decision making.
Lots of fresh snow available for transport and strong SW winds forecast for Wednesday will create reactive windslabs in alpine and exposed treeline terrain.
Surface windslab avalanches have the potential to step down to the basal facets resulting in larger full depth avalanches.
Good visibility today showed more evidence of the recent avalanche cycle from the past storm. This included numerous avalanches up to size 2.5 originating mostly in the alpine but also some treeline locations. On Saturday a size 2 skier triggered avalanche failed as a deep persistent slab at treeline and ran 600m scrubbing to ground.
No new natural avalanches have been observed in the past 24 hours
Last week's storm snow has settled to 20-40cm over the Dec 2 weak layer which consists of the basal facets and surface hoar. A rain crust (1 to 7cm thick) exists within the storm snow up to 2300m on all aspects. The thickness of the rain crust tapers with increasing elevation. Click here for snow profile from Dolomite peak area that was done on Tuesday.
Wednesday will bring increasing cloud and strong SW winds. Light snow will begin on Thursday with only 5 cm accumulation by the end of day. Freezing levels will be near valley bottom.
For more information, click Mountain Weather Forecast.
