Watch for early season hazards like stumps and rocks lurking below the surface. There have been limited field observations to date, evaluate the snowpack carefully before committing to any exposed terrain. JH
Weather Forecast
A mix of sun and cloud and a few flurries Friday into Saturday will give way to snowfall by Sunday afternoon as a Low pressure system makes it's way inland. Total accumulations of 10-20cm are expected by Monday morning.
Snowpack Summary
Near the divide, the snowpack above 2000m is over 100cm deep, but tapers quickly below. The early season snowpack is generally well consolidated. Pockets of windslab likely exist in exposed lees. A mid November crust persists down 30-80cm, it was well bonded in areas observed today but warrants evaluation for the foreseeable future.
Avalanche Summary
No recent activity observed.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
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.