It's early in the season but there is more than enough snow for avalanches. New wind slabs are expected to have formed at higher elevations. If you are out in the mountains, please post your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Confidence
Poor - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
The cold Arctic air will be the dominant feature for the next couple days. On Wednesday, expect dry and sunny conditions with freezing levels below valley bottom. In the morning, alpine winds are expected to be strong from NE but should ease during the day. On Thursday and Friday, dry and sunny conditions continue with light NE winds. On Friday, models are suggesting that a layer of warm air aloft will reach the region and a strong temperature inversion is possible.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported. If you are out in the mountains, please send us your observations.
Snowpack Summary
Snowpack observations have been very limited as the season commences. Initial reports suggest that there is enough snow above around 1700m for avalanches to occur. Around 10cm of new snow sits on a thick rain crust which exists to at least treeline elevation. In exposed terrain at higher elevations, new winds slabs are expected to have formed and may linger for a few days. The stiff underlying crust may increase the likelihood of triggering a wind slab avalanche.
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.