Fresh, windslabs are forming in leeward areas from incremental snow fall and wind. These could be brittle and easy to trigger.
This layer may present as surface hoar / facets / or sun crust. It is buried 30-60 cm throughout the region and is producing 'sudden planar' results in stability tests.
The potential for deeper releases on the basal layers still exist. Several large avalanches have occurred on this layer in past few days. See forecast details.
Deep persistent slabs are best managed by:
Cornices are best managed by:
Things are changing. A low pressure system moving across BC will bring snow and warming to the Rockies, and temperatures could rise to -10 by Thursday afternoon along with 10 cm of new snow and continued strong winds.
10 cm of new snow and sustained SW winds through Thursday will continue to build soft windslabs that trigger easily. This will make up to 60 cm above the Dec 31 layer of facets, surface hoar and sun crust. Concern remains for the weak layers of facets and depth hoar near the base of the snowpack which we expect to wake up again.
Very few observations due to the cold temperatures preventing many people from getting outside (smart). Sunshine reported thin, soft slabs forming through the day.