Warmer temps and NW winds will cause the upper snowpack to settle and potentially the windslabs become slightly more reactive. Use caution at Alpine and treeline as the doesn't like rapid changes...
Weather Forecast
Warmer temperatures are forecast to finally arrive but we can also expect winds to increase into the moderate range out of the NW. Blue Bird day is forecast so it will be a nice day in the mountains! Watch for pockets with reverse loading on Southern aspects.
Avalanche Summary
A few loose dry avalanches up to sz 2 likely triggered by solar input. There was also a few small slabs avalanches up to sz 1 within the recent storm snow from steeper terrain that ran far entraining facets on the underlying slopes.
Snowpack Summary
Recent HST is slowly settling with the cooler temps. Windslabs developing in open alpine areas on all aspects but still not reactive to skier traffic. North area of the forecast region (Tent and Commonwealth) seems to have seen more widespread winds but this seem to be localized to this area.
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.