Natural avalanche activity has subsided but human triggered avalanches are still a real possibility. Despite the danger level dropping, conservative terrain choices are still prudent.
Confidence
High - Due to the quality of field observations
Weather Forecast
Winds will continue out of the NW on Friday but the temps are slowly increasing. No new precip for the next 5 days!
Avalanche Summary
No new natural avalanche activity was observed.
Snowpack Summary
Wind effect primarily on lee features and cross loaded areas in Alpine. Some areas have evidence of reverse loading from the northern winds so even look for these slabs on S and W aspects in some areas. Faceted snow pack from top to bottom up to 2400m. Ski penetration to ground up to 2150m in most areas.
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.