Incoming weather will create prime conditions for touchy wind slabs, minimize your exposure in wind affected terrain.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Flurries with 10-20 cm, 20-30 km/h southwest winds, alpine temperatures -8.SUNDAY: Flurries with 5 cm, light west winds, alpine temperatures -8.MONDAY: Sun and cloud, light northwest winds, alpine temperatures -12.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday afternoon, strong winds resulted in a natural cycle of size 1-2 avalanches in steep wind-loaded alpine features. There were also reports of skiers accidentally releasing size 1 wind slabs in isolated pockets. Strong winds and flurries will continue to form touchy wind slabs in exposed terrain at alpine and treeline.
Snowpack Summary
High elevations were blasted with strong northeast outflow winds this week and are now experiencing moderate south winds. The result is extensive wind scouring and wind slab formation in exposed terrain. Intermittent flurries the next few days will deposit a total of 20-30 cm low density snow on a variable surface consisting of wind slabs, small isolated pockets of surface hoar, and surface facets. Expect the new snow to bond poorly with this interface. The mid-pack is generally strong, with a widespread mid-November crust buried 70-100 cm at treeline and anywhere from 30-200 cm in alpine terrain. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.
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.