Pay close attention to how the new snow is bonding to the old snow surfaces, especially where it sits on surface hoar and buried crusts. If you receive more than 20 cm in your local riding area by the afternoon bump the danger to CONSIDERABLE.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Thursday
Weather Forecast
Thursday: 5-10 cm expected accompanied by strong easterly winds. Freezing levels near 1500 m. Friday: Mainly cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. Alpine temperatures near -6 and freezing levels dropping to 1300 m. Ridgetop winds light with strong gusts from the southwest.Saturday: Mainly cloudy with a trace of new snow. Alpine temperatures near -9 and freezing levels 1300 m. Ridgetop winds light from the southwest.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche activity has been reported on Wednesday. Avalanche hazard will be on the rise with forecast snow and wind.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow accumulations total 30-40 cm of low density fluff. Forecast snow for Thursday will add to these totals and likely have a poor bond to the underlying snow surfaces which consist of crusts, dry snow or surface hoar on north aspects above 1500 m. Deeper in the snowpack (50-80 cm down) a weak layer of surface hoar buried mid-February may exist. This interface is dormant, but could wake up with a heavy load like a cornice fall, human triggers from a thin, shallow area on the slope or a rapid warm up. Digging towards the bottom of the snowpack youll find a combination of crusts and facets that are reportedly widespread.
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.