A warm, wet, and windy storm will heighten avalanche danger in the region on Friday. Avalanche problems will vary greatly based on your elevation.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday
Weather Forecast
Thursday night: Periods of snow bringing 10-15 cm of new snow. Strong south winds.Friday: Periods of snow bringing 10-15 cm of new snow over the day. Moderate south winds. Freezing level to 1300 metres with alpine temperatures around -2.Saturday: Continuing flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light southwest winds. Freezing level to 1000 metres with alpine temperatures around -5Sunday: Cloudy with scattered flurries and a trace of new snow, intensifying in the evening. Light to moderate southeast winds. Freezing level to 1300 metres with alpine temperatures around -2.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported in the region. Looking forward, the focus is on our new snow accumulations. At lower elevations where temperatures approach 0 or higher, new snow can be expected to release in natural loose wet avalanches out of steep terrain, as well as under skier traffic. At higher, colder elevations, more of our recent precipitation likely fell as snow. This means you can expect to find increasingly thick and reactive storm and/or wind slabs as you gain elevation in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
About 5 cm of new snow lies on the surface at about 1400 metres and below. This new snow lies over moist or wet snow sitting above a strong and well settled snowpack. In the highest elevation terrain, new snow amounts are likely closer to 10 cm. At these elevations, the new snow contributes to storm and/or wind slabs sitting above a a strong rain crust.
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 Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.