As soon as the sun comes out the surface snow will moisten quickly and increase the potential of loose wet avalanches. Wind slabs in immediate alpine lee features may be reactive to human triggering.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Mainly cloudy / light to moderate northwest wind / freezing level 1200 mWEDNESDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries / light southwest wind / alpine high temperature -4 C / freezing level 1800 mTHURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries / light west wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1700 mFRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / light westerly wind / alpine high temperature -6 C / freezing level 1700 m
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, several natural and human triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported on west, north and east aspects in the alpine. A few natural and human triggered wind slabs to size 1.5 were reported from immediate lee features in the alpine. Several natural loose avalanches up to size 2.5 were observed on northerly aspects at treeline and in the alpine.On Sunday and Saturday, there were a few reports of natural and human triggered storm/wind slab avalanches up to size 2 at treeline and alpine elevations. There were also reports of several natural and human triggered loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 on steep solar slopes and below treeline.
Snowpack Summary
15 to 40 cm of recent storm snow sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on dry snow and surface hoar (feathery crystals) in some areas. These slopes may also have a layer of sugary faceted snow buried 60 to 80 cm. On northern aspects the new snow is not bonding as well and humans can trigger storm slab avalanches. Strong southwest winds on Monday created isolated wind slabs in lee features at treeline and in the alpine. On sun exposed slopes the new snow might release as loose wet avalanches. Recent snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
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.