Until we see a change in the current weather pattern the primary concern out there is still the deep basal weaknesses that is most susceptible to human triggering in steep alpine features, mainly on northerly aspects.
Confidence
Good - The weather pattern is stable
Weather Forecast
No new precipitation in the forecast . Temperatures gradually rising with a return to more normal values expected by next Tuesday. WInds along ridgetops are trending from the N-NE eventually transitioning to a more westerly flow in the days to come.
Avalanche Summary
No new observed or reported.
Snowpack Summary
No change - surface facetting taking place. Sun crusts are still present at all elevations on solar exposed aspects. Terrain in the alpine and treeline elevation zones are highly variable with regards to snow cover and condition but wind slabs definitely dominate the landscape. The deep basal weaknesses remain in place and in fact is weakening gradually under the influence of the continued cold temperatures.
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.