Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain for the entire period
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Moderate S wind. Alpine temperature near -6. Moderate snow.Thursday: Moderate to strong SW wind. Alpine temperature near -6. Light snow, becoming moderate late in the day. Friday: Moderate to strong SW wind, easing in the afternoon. Alpine temperature near -6. Moderate snow.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Incoming snow will be landing on a medley of surfaces including hard wind slabs, thin and thick crusts and large surface hoar crystals which have been growing in some sheltered terrain below treeline.A surface hoar layer buried down 40-80 cm seems to be gaining strength. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer exists, which is now unlikely to be triggered, except perhaps by heavy triggers in unsupported, shallow, rocky terrain where more faceting has taken place.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.