The cold temps should help reduce the avalanche hazard in the coming days. The primary avalanche concern is wind slabs at upper elevations, especially where the slab overlays a crust.
Consistent strong winds and snow accumulation over the past 4 days have developed wind slabs. These new winds slabs are sitting on a verity of surfaces like hard slab, SH and facets. Expect to find them in most leeward and drifted slopes.
With up to 45cm of new snow accumulation and previous warm temps, some areas with high snowfall amount may have developed a storm slab. Expect this to be more reactive in areas where the bed surface exists as a crust.
The arctic air establishes itself into the forecast region on Monday, expect partly cloudy skies, light east winds, and plummeting temperatures to -30 overnight. On Tuesday expect clear skies, light winds and continued frigid temperatures. The ridge will weaken by the end of the day on Wed. with increasing cloud and warmer temperatures.
30-45 cm of new snow has fallen over the past 4 days. Previous strong west winds created slabs at treeline and above. Areas to the west received the most snow. These wind slabs may release easily on the various firm surfaces underneath. The Jan 30th surface hoar/sun crust interface exists 40-60 cm below the surface and is currently unreactive.
Natural avalanches up to size 2 out of large alpine start zones, and skier triggered avalanches to size 1 were reported occurring during the height of the storm on Saturday. The local ski hills reported explosive triggered slab and loose dry avalanches up to size 1.0 out of treeline terrain and 1.5 out of alpine terrain on Sunday.
