Natural avalanches subsided on Wednesday, with cooler temps and less solar input. The snowpack still requires more cooling before it can fully heal from previous warmth, rain, and sun.
New snow, moderate SW winds, and mild temps are the perfect combination for forming fresh wind slabs in the alpine. Expect to find potentially reactive slabs if you can get to higher elevations.
On Monday and Tuesday, there was a widespread natural avalanche cycle, primarily on lower elevations and solar aspects including loose wet avalanches to size 3! The likelihood of avalanches has decreased, unless the sun makes a strong appearance.
On Monday and Tuesday, there was a widespread natural avalanche cycle, primarily on lower elevations and solar aspects including deep persistent slabs, failing on the Dec 1st crust and gouging to ground!
Wednesday Night: Cloudy with flurries, Low of -9
Thursday and Friday: Mix of sun, cloud, and flurries, Alpine high temp of -8, winds 20-40kmph, and the Freezing level making it to 1500m
Below treeline and on solar aspects to treeline the snowpack is probably isothermal with a weak crust, and or new snow capping the surface. At higher elevations, there is likely ~10cm of new snow overlying a variety of surfaces including, previous heavier snow, wind slabs, and possibly crusts.
On Monday and Tuesday there was a widespread natural avalanche cycle, primarily on lower elevations and solar aspects including wet slabs, deep persistent slabs, glides, and loose wets to size 3! Some avalanches gouged to ground, breaking trees, and running full path!
