A significant storm brought 30cms of new snow with strong winds. Stick to conservative terrain while the new snow stabilizes.
60-80cm of snow overlays a layer of surface hoar in sheltered zones, and a sun crust on steep, solar aspects. There has been limited activity on this layer in recent days, but the new load from the incoming storm could re-awaken this problem.
In the last 24 hours there has been 30-40cms of new snow, accompanied by strong/extreme S & West winds. A reactive, cohesive storm slab will form with these conditions and will be easily triggered by riders.
Avalanche control at Rogers Pass on Wednesday produced storm slab avalanches to size 3. Visibility was obscured and it was difficult to see the full extent of the avalanche cycle but some avalanches ran full path.
30cm of new snow has fallen with strong gusting Southerly winds. This lands on variable wind slabs already present in the Alpine and at Treeline. A persistent weak layer is down 50-70cm. This interface consists of surface hoar in sheltered locations, a sun crust on solar aspects, and continues to produce moderate-hard sudden results in test profiles. The snowpack's base is comprised of several early-season melt-freeze rain crusts.
In the wake of the storm we'll have unsettled weather with flurries for the next few days
Tonight Cloudy with flurries, Alp low -9°C, mod S winds, Freezing level (FZL) 800m
Thurs Cloudy with Snow flurries to 5cm, Alp high -4°C, mod S winds, FZL 1400m
Fri Mainly cloudy, flurries to 5cm. Alp high 1°C, light S winds, FZL 2200m
Sat Cloudy with flurries to 7cm, Alp high -3°C, mod/gusting extreme W winds, FZL 1900m.
