Expect to find touchy wind slabs in the region. Conservative decision-making is recommended.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY NIGHT: Clearing, freezing level below valley bottom.TUESDAY: Clear with afternoon clouds, light southwest winds, alpine temperature -12 C, freezing level below valley bottom.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation trace to 5 cm, light to moderate southwest winds, alpine temperature -6 C, freezing level below valley bottom.THURSDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, light to moderate southwest winds, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level below valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
One large avalanche was observed on Sunday, which was suspected to have been a reloaded bed surface and possibly failing on the sugary faceted grains and sun crust described in the snowpack summary. Otherwise, no new avalanches were observed in the region.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs are reported as being widespread at treeline and alpine elevations. These formed from the recent storm that deposed 50 to 90 cm of snow with strong southwest winds. There have been reports that all this snow is not bonding well to underlying surfaces in areas. Below treeline, this new snow is likely settling and gaining strength.There are a few deeper weaknesses in the snowpack. Professionals are still tracking a layer around 150 to 200 cm deep, composed of sugary faceted grains, feathery surface hoar, and a sun crust. The base of the snowpack may also still be composed of weak faceted grains in parts of the region. The likelihood of triggering these deep weak layers is low and would most likely be triggered by humans in areas where the snowpack is shallow.
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.