Forecasts are based on limited observations. You need to be the detective. Dig down, test weak layers and keep an eye on rising temperatures throughout the weekend.
Confidence
Fair - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
High pressure will dominate though the forecast period. This will bring warming temperatures, rising freezing levels and temperature inversions. Some forecasts suggest alpine temperatures could rise as high as 5 degrees celsius by Monday. Ridgetop winds will be light from the West and no precipitation is expected.
Avalanche Summary
During the storm earlier this week a widespread natural avalanche cycle in the alpine occurred. Size 2-3 slab avalanches were reported throughout the region. Recently, only smaller size 1-2 avalanches have been reported. However, isolated very large slab avalanches may occur naturally and could be rider triggered, especially in areas that didn't previously avalanche.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow seems to be settling, but wind slab problems do exist. A surface hoar layer exists 60-120 cm down but seems to be spotty, and drainage specific. A bigger concern is a melt-freeze / rain crust that formed early October. This is generally found from 80-180 cm down, and was reactive earlier this week. Sugary facetted crystals have a poor bond above and below the crust. The crust seems to be widespread through the region. Northerly aspects may have a more predominant crust that that might allow for wider propagations and bigger avalanches, especially places that have smooth ground cover (glacier ice, grassy slopes, rock slabs etc.).
Problems
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.
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.