Despite the Moderate hazard rating, forecasters are treating large Alpine features with caution due to the deep persistent weak layers.
Weather Forecast
Sunday will be cloudy with sunny periods and no precipitations. Temperatures should be fairly mild with moderate westerly winds. A system is approaching that could bring some snow to us on Tuesday.
Avalanche Summary
One new slab avalanche observed today on an East aspect in the Alpine. This slide was naturally triggered and appears to have occurred in the past 24hrs. The fracture line was up to 100cm deep.
Snowpack Summary
Variable depth wind slabs are found in Alpine terrain along ridgelines and in cross-loaded gully features. Snowpack tests today indicate failures in the moderate range down 35cm, as well as on the Nov crust layer buried deeply in the snowpack. Much of the snowpack is very weak and facetted, especially at lower elevations. Any avalanche that is initiated in the upper snowpack will likely step down and involve the entire snowpack.
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.