Recent slab formation in the alpine and open areas at treeline will remain sensitive to skier-triggering on Friday. Incoming storms on the weekend will push the danger level up, with the most significant change expected on Sunday.
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Friday will bring little precipitation, and continued strong westerlies. Saturday will see a wave of snowfall with a bigger storm arriving Sunday. Alpine temperatures will climb to near -5 degrees.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous sluffs up to size 1.5 on steep aspects on steep lee features in the alpine. One small slab triggered (likely by a goat) on a S asp at treeline. Slab did not propagate far and fracture depth was approximately 20 to 30cm.
Snowpack Summary
Small storms have added up to 20cm of new snow at treeline and above. Soft slab formation on-going at treeline and alpine elevations. Open areas at treeline have a stiffer slab than lower altitudes.
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.