Confidence
Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions
Weather Forecast
Thursday: Trace amounts of new snow / Light west winds / Freezing level at 1400mFriday: A mix of sun and cloud / Moderate southwest winds / Freezing level at 1900mSaturday: Light snowfall / Light southwest winds / Freezing level at 1200m
Avalanche Summary
There have been no reports of avalanche activity since the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Small pockets of stiff wind slab have formed at higher elevations in response to light amounts of new snow and strong southwest wind. In areas protected from the sun the new snow may overlie surface hoar at treeline elevation. Several crusts can be found in the snowpack, especially on solar aspects; however, reports indicate these interfaces have settled out fairly rapidly. The mid and lower snowpack layers are generally strong and well settled. Total snow depths vary from around 400 cm in the south to around 180 cm in the north.
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.