The pockets of windslab in the alpine could be triggered by the weight of a skier, expect them to be most reactive where they sit on a crust.
Pockets of windslab can be found in alpine lees (more prevalent in the northern parts of the region). A significant snow event forecasted for late Thursday and Friday will build fresh reactive storm/wind slabs.
Evidence from recent snowpack tests and whumphing would suggest that a weak layer of facets persists down 20-50cm in some areas. This layer will likely become reactive with loading from forecasted snow later in the week.
On Wednesday a warm front will pass over us, followed by a costal low with precipitation and strong winds on Thursday-Friday.
Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Treeline temperature: Low -5, High -3 C. Ridge Light (gusting strong) from the West. Freezing level: 2000 metres.
Above treeline 10cm of settling snow sits on a variety of crusts. Above 2200m on Northerly slopes, a more winter like snowpack can be found, with pockets of windslab, a peristent weak layer down 20-50cm and a facetted mid and lower snowpack which is weak in shallow areas.
There was isolated natural windslab activity observed during last weekends wind/snow event. The mid march PWL continues to produce whumphing in shallower snowpack areas and on moraine features, indicating unstable snow below.
