Regions
Northwest Inland.
Forecast new snow and strong winds will form small wind slabs in leeward areas near ridge crests and on convex features which may be reactive to human triggers.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY: Snow; accumulation 5-10 cm. Moderate to strong southwest wind. Alpine temperature -2. Freezing level 1200 m. FRIDAY: Cloudy with flurries; accumulation 3-5 cm. Moderate south wind. Alpine temperature -2. Freezing level 1200 m.SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with flurries. Light west wind. Alpine temperature -3. Freezing level 1100 m.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported in this region on Tuesday. However, I would expect the incoming storm on Thursday to form fresh wind slabs reactive to human triggers in wind affected terrain at treeline and above.
Snowpack Summary
Forecast new snow and strong winds are expected to create touchy wind slabs in wind affected terrain at treeline and above.Weak layers buried around March 19th are roughly 40 cm below the surface (up to 100 cm in deeper snowpack areas). These weak layers include surface hoar on shaded aspects at high elevations and hard crusts on solar aspects and below treeline.Sugary facets may be found near the base of the snowpack in shallow, rocky snowpack areas on shady aspects.
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.