Snow is forecast above 1500 m on Wednesday. Expect to find variable snow conditions with aspect and elevation. Continue applying added caution in steep, north-facing terrain in the alpine.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, light southwest wind, alpine temperature -1 C, freezing level 2000 m.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, light to moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1500 m.THURSDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, light southwest wind, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 1900 m.FRIDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, light south wind, alpine temperature -1 C, freezing level 2000 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, a small (size 1) wind slab was triggered by a skier on a north aspect in alpine terrain. The slab was 20 cm deep and about 10 m wide. Otherwise, no other avalanches were observed.
Snowpack Summary
Around 5 cm of new snow is expected at treeline and alpine elevations on Wednesday, which will otherwise fall as rain at lower elevations. This will fall onto a hard melt-freeze crust on all aspects and elevations except for north slopes above 2000 m, where it will fall onto 10 to 30 cm of dry snow and isolated wind slabs. North slopes above 2000 m may also have a layer of sugary faceted snow buried 50 to 70 cm. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.
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.