Early season conditions exist! Rocks, stumps, trees, and anything sharp are lingering at or just below the snow surface. Getting caught in a slide right now would drag you through very unforgiving terrain. Super rugged down low.
Weather Forecast
Friday will see unsettled weather with 5cm, light to moderate SW winds, and freezing levels around 1300m. Saturday brings 20-30cm of snow, with rising freezing levels to 1700m, and moderate to strong SW winds. In the storm's wake, unsettled weather may bring flurries Sunday and Monday, with freezing levels dropping once again.
Snowpack Summary
Early season conditions are prevalent, with 80-100cm in the alpine, 50-65cm at 2100m, and rapidly decreasing depths as you head into the valley bottom. Soft slabs exist in alpine lee features due to wind redistribution.
Avalanche Summary
No new activity observed nor reported in the last 48 hours.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
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.
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.