Strong winds are creating new windslabs in Alpine areas. Pay close attention to the input of solar radiation as you travel in relation to overhead terrain. Freezing levels are forecast to be valley bottom overnight.
Problemas de aludes
Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alta montaña
Límite del bosque
Bajo el límite del bosque
Probabilidad
Possible - Likely
Tamaño
1–2
Fresh windslabs are forming on lee aspects (N and E) in alpine areas as a result of strong SW winds on friday.
Deep Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alta montaña
Límite del bosque
Bajo el límite del bosque
Probabilidad
Unlikely - Possible
Tamaño
2–3
We are not entirely free from this layer yet. It is still down there and more suspect in thin areas, cold areas that haven't seen a warming cycle and large terrain that hasn't avalanched yet.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Saturday
Weather Forecast
No new snow is forecast over the next 24hrs and temperatures are still forecast to remain cool. Winds will continue to be strong out of the SW which will help to keep the snowpack cooler but when the sun comes out, stability will quickly deteriorate on solar aspects, especially steeper or rocky terrain.
Avalanche Summary
A few loose wet slides were observed that had likely come out after the forecasting day on Thursday. Otherwise, there were no new avalanches on friday.
Snowpack Summary
Only a skiff of new snow over the past 24hrs. Of note the winds were howling (aka strong) out of the SW at higher elevations. Widespread snow transport was observed in alpine terrain and as a result new windslabs were forming at higher elevations on lee aspects. Temperatures remained somewhat cool but we did see some moist snow later in the afternoon on solar aspects. On Thursday the warm temps had moist snow up to 2400m on all aspects. As a result, surface crusts should be expected in most areas making the skiing challenging. Dry powder snow is pretty much only likely in high alpine areas on North aspects. On solar aspects, crusts are bing observed up to 2700m.