Expect to find pockets of wind slab at upper elevations, which may be reactive to human triggers. Keep an eye out for changing conditions as prolonged sunny periods will increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches on sun-exposed slopes.
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy / southeast winds, 10-25 km/h / alpine low temperature near -2FRIDAY - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 5 cm / southeast winds, 10-25 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 2000 mSATURDAY - Cloudy with isolated flurries / southwest winds, 10-30 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 1700 mSUNDAY - Cloudy with flurries, 5-10 cm / southwest winds, 30-50 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 1800 m
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, there were two reports of glide slab avalanches, size 1 and 2.5. These occurred on southeast aspects between 2200-2400 m. Both released on rock slabs.On Monday, a small (size 1) wind slab was triggered by a skier on a north aspect in alpine terrain. The slab was 20 cm deep and about 10 m wide.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 15 cm of new snow sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on 10 to 30 cm of dry snow, surface hoar (feathery crystals) and isolated wind slabs. Below approximately 1800 m, the recent precipitation likely fell as rain.North facing slopes above 2000 m may also have a layer of sugary faceted snow buried 50 to 70 cm.Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.
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.