The recent snow is hiding the windslabs that formed earlier in the week. We are not into spring stability right now! Best skiing will be on sheltered N aspects.
Weather Forecast
A mix of sun and cloud.Precipitation: Nil.Alpine temperature: High -11 °C.Ridge wind west: 30-50 km/h.Freezing level at valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
Over the past 36hrs there have been a few sz 2 slides out of N and E aspects in alpine areas. There are mainly failing down 20-30cm and 30-50m wide.
Snowpack Summary
5-10cm new snow fell across the region overnight with very little wind affect. This new snow now blankets the previous windslabs that formed earlier in the week. These windslabs are easy to find in alpine terrain and are 20-40cm thick. What natural avalanche activity we did see on Friday showed these windslabs failing mainly on N and E aspects in steeper terrain or in unsupported features. Field test were showing an easy to moderate sheer at the interface of the windslabs with the underlying snow. Be heads up in steeper areas and choose supported terrain. Light snow was starting as we left. The best skiing will be on N aspects due to crusts on solar aspects.
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.