Winds are increasing with lots of new snow available for wind transport. The hazard will slowly increase over the next several days. Stumps and rocks are still lurking near the surface at lower elevations. Great skiing in sheltered locations!
Weather Forecast
More seasonal temperatures are forecast for the next several days. Winds will increase from Moderate to Strong out of the NW at higher elevations. Snow amounts remain light with a small system forecast for Saturday night and a clearing trend following this.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs and cross loading at tree line and in the alpine is beginning to develop with increasing W winds and lots of recent snow available for wind transport. In thick snowpack areas there are no other major concerns. In thin snow pack areas new snow or wind slabs may be hiding a weak facetted base. Caution should be used in these locations.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been observed in the past several days however we expect to see some cornice failures and wind triggered avalanches over the next few days as the winds increase.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.