Although avalanche conditions are slowly improving, caution is still advised in larger Alpine features. Numerous early season hazards remain a concern, but travel conditions have improved.
Confidence
Good - The weather pattern is stable
Weather Forecast
Monday is expected to be cloudy and relatively mild. Freezing levels will climb to 2000m and winds are expected to be moderate from the West. No precipitation is expected.
Avalanche Summary
Nothing new observed or reported.
Snowpack Summary
Surface facetting. Variable wind effect in Alpine. Test profile at 2300m on NE aspect. Total height of snow at this wind-loaded site was 123cm. Moderate compression tests observed under the October crust down 70cm. Inconsistent moderate shears in upper snowpack at old wind slab interfaces.
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.