The weather forecast is calling for a more stable weather pattern in the coming days
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southwest wind / Alpine temperature -5 / Freezing level 1300mMONDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries / Moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -5 / Freezing level 1300mTUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light east wind / Alpine temperature -3 / Freezing level 1600m
Avalanche Summary
The most recent reports from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday include explosives triggered storm slabs running size 1.5 - 2, 30-40cm deep along with explosives controlled cornice releases that that were not releasing slabs on the slope below. On Sunday, expect newly formed wind slabs to be reactive to human triggering.
Snowpack Summary
30-50cm of new snow from the last week at upper elevations sits on widespread melt-freeze crusts that exist on all aspects and elevations except for high elevation north facing terrain. On all aspects below 2000 m and higher on sun exposed slopes, there may be multiple crust layers in the upper snowpack. Moderate to strong alpine wind from the south will have redistributed the new snow and formed additional wind slabs in the alpine and at tree line. Large overhanging cornices exist primarily on northerly aspects in the alpine.
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.