The latest storm dropped 50cm of snow onto a notable weak layer. Strong winds have moved this new snow around, creating cohesive storm slabs ripe for human triggering.
Check the storm interface on smaller, supported slopes while exploring conservative lines.
Snowfall, warm temps, and strong winds continue to build fresh storm slabs. In the alpine this problem will be most reactive where affected by wind. At treeline and below these will be most sensitive to triggering where they overlie surface hoar or a sun crust (from the recent inversion).
Artillery avalanche control has been excellent today, with numerous sz 3-3.5 avalanches moving very fast into the valley bottoms.
Field teams in the past 2 days observed a soft storm slab at all elevations. This was reactive in steep or unsupported terrain features where there was wind effect (a stiffer surface).
Neighbouring areas are reporting easy to trigger storm slabs in the size 1- 2.5 range, failing on the surface hoar or suncrust (aspect depending) down 20-50cm.
Up to 50-70cms of storm snow has fallen with moderate Southwest winds. This storm snow has buried a spotty layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline & below. On solar slopes the storm snow buries a suncrust.
There are no persistent weak layers in the mid or lower snowpack.
Tonight Flurries, 10-15 cm. Alpine Low -10°C. Ridge wind SW 30-55 km/h. Freezing level (FZL) 600m.
Wed Scattered flurries, 5 cm. Alpine high -11°C. Wind SW 30-45. FZL 500m.
Thurs Flurries,10cm. Alpine High -12°C. Wind SW 35-65km/h. FZL Valley Bottom.
Fri Scattered flurries, 5cm. Alpine high -9°C. Wind W 30-40km/h. FZL 1000m
