Cornices are large and looming, human triggering is possible.
Keep well back from the edge while riding or walking along ridge lines.
Large overhanging cornices remain possible to trigger naturally, but are less likely as temperatures cool. Give slopes threatened by cornices a wide berth and keep well back from ridges, human triggering is likely.
Temperatures are set to cool on Wednesday and clear skies overnight may develop a weak surface crust that will begin to break down as freezing levels start to rise again. Watch out for moist surfaces, especially on steep slopes.
During the storm a widespread storm slab, wet slab, and wet loose avalanche cycle up to size 3 was reported.
Cornices are reported to be over-hanging and fragile. A Cornice triggered wet slab was reported occurring during the storm on Tuesday evening.
A significant rain and warming event has saturated the upper snowpack to ridge-top.
Clear overnight skies and dropping freezing levels have likely started to form a surface crust. Below this the snowpack remains moist.
The mid-December crust is 100 to 200 cm deep and reaches up to 2200 m. It's well-bonded to the snow above. Above 2200 m, a layer of facets and a crust from November is at the base of the snowpack. These layers are not currently a concern.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear skies. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 mm of rain at treeline. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2800 m.
Friday
Sunny. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 3400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
