Use caution at all elevations. Carefully assess how much snow has fallen in your area and keep an eye on the temperatures throughout the day.
Wind slab will likely be found in exposed terrain at and above treeline.
In areas where more than 25 cm of snow has fallen storm slabs are possible on all aspects. This is most likely to have occurred on the western side of the forecast region. Storm slabs could produce avalanches up to size 2.
As freezing levels rise Saturday morning another loose wet cycle is possible at and below treeline. Wet slabs up to size 1.5 are also possible.
Friday night: flurries with moderate westerly winds. Freezing levels around 1100m.
Saturday: no new snow expected. Moderate northwest winds in the morning shifting to southwest in the afternoon with freezing levels rising to 2000m.
Sunday: light flurries in the evening. Moderate to strong winds from the south and freezing levels around 2000 m.
Monday: light precipitation and light to moderate southwest winds. freezing level around 1500 m.
On Thursday our field team observed several loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 in the treeline and above. Ski cutting produced small wet slabs running on a crust down 15cm at 1100m.
Recent snowfall will have formed storm and wind slabs at treeline and above. Below this a 1 cm thick crust can be found up to 1400 m.
Another crust can be found down 30 to 50 cm that extends up to mountain tops.
Moist snow surfaces can be found at and below treeline from rain and warm temperatures.
The mid and lower snow pack is well settled but shallow at low elevations leaving many hazards just below the surface.
