Step out slowly and purposefully. Avoid shallow faceted areas. Seek out deep snowpack areas.
Weather Forecast
Warmer than seasonal temperatures will persist through until the end of the week. A weak system will bring snow to the region starting late Wednesday. By the end of Friday there could be up to 25cm in the alpine. The wind will potentially climb to the strong range from the West, the windiest period being late on Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
10-20cm of snow sits on top of isolated sun-crusts and surface hoar. Possible soft wind slabs in lee alpine areas. Of greatest concern are the weak facets and depth hoar at the base of the snowpack. Triggering a slab is more likely in thin snowpack areas.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches observed or reported.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Thursday
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.
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.