It looks like our winter might officially start this weekend! Forecasts are suggesting almost a meter of snow at alpine elevations. In the meantime the hazard will plateau at moderate in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
Nothing new from the last 24hrs. Some loose dry avalanches were noted from a few days ago. These were small (size 1). Some older windslabs were also noted.
Snowpack Summary
Windloading is ongoing at upper treeline and alpine elevations. There was some evidence today of a loose dry natural cycle running mid storm in steep terrain. No new windslabs were noted. Having said that, windslabs do exist in the alpine and possibly in open areas at upper treeline.
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.
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.