New wind slabs probably aren't very big, but they may slide easily on buried crust. Older, deeper wind slabs above the crust elevation are lower probability, higher consequence problem.
Small new wind slabs may slide freely on the recent crust. Higher up where the crust is thin or absent, a deeper, variable layer of surface hoar or thin crust may act as a failure plane for older, larger wind slabs.
No recent avalanches have been reported in the region.
Share your observations to the Mountain Information Network!
A few cm of new snow has done little to bury crust that exists up to 1850 m in the Wells area. You may find it 5 - 15 cm deep.
The crust capped 20 -30 cm of recent snow sitting on a variety of layers, including surface hoar, crusts, and sugary facets. This layer is a concern above the elevation of the crust. Older wind slabs formed over it in the alpine may still be surprisingly reactive.
The middle and lower snowpack is generally strong with no weak layers of concern.
Thursday Night
Cloudy with easing scattered flurries and a trace of new snow. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind, easing. Freezing level to valley bottom.
Friday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature falling to -10 °C.
Saturday
Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -13 °C.
Sunday
Sunny. 15 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature -13 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
