Light snow forecasted into the weekend.
Weather Forecast
Snow in the forecast for the weekend starting in the late afternoon Friday. Cold temperatures will continue and initially calling for east winds shifting to north.
Snowpack Summary
Surface faceting and surface hoar development. Thin slabs developed by previous strong SW winds loaded lee alpine slopes. Poor bonding between new and old slab. Mid-pack and below weak and faceted with depth hoar to ground.
Avalanche Summary
Road report of 2 x size 1.5, North and west aspects, alpine elevation.
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.