New snow and wind will mean that storm slabs are likely to be encountered, and may be reactive to human triggering, especially in wind loaded areas.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY NIGHT - Flurries, 5-10 cm / southerly winds, 30-60 km/h / alpine low temperature near -6SATURDAY - A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries / south winds, 30-60 km/h / alpine high temperature near -3 / freezing level 1700 mSUNDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / southeast winds, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -4 / freezing level 1700 mMONDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries / southwest winds, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 1700 m
Avalanche Summary
It is likely that storm slabs will be reactive to human triggering at upper elevations.On Thursday, there were reports of a few human triggered size 1 loose wet avalanches at treeline within the new snow.There has been three cornice failures observed in the region since Monday. One triggered a large avalanche that scrubbed down to the base of the snowpack, one triggered a thin slab avalanche and one did not trigger a slab.
Snowpack Summary
15-25 cm of new snow in the alpine and at treeline sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north slopes above 1800 m, where it sits on 10 to 30 cm of dry snow and isolated wind slabs. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.