Be alert to how the snowpack changes with elevation and exposure to the wind.
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday
Weather Forecast
Expect light snowfall until late Saturday, when the next organised storm system brings 10-15 cm snow with moderate to strong SW winds. The freezing level is expected to peak at around 1600m during this storm. Snow and wind should both gradually ease through Monday.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow is likely to be shifted by strong winds into slabs over a hard crust or surface hoar. These may be easy to trigger with the weight of a person or snowmobile. Deeper snowpack weaknesses are still on our radar, but seem to be dormant for the time being.
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.