Wind slabs are likely to be encountered at upper elevations and may be reactive to human triggering, especially in lee features along ridgetops.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with flurries / up to 5 cm accumulation / light southerly wind / freezing level 1300 mTUESDAY - Cloudy with flurries / light to moderate northwest wind / alpine high temperature -2 C / freezing level 1800 mWEDNESDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods / light southwest wind / alpine high temperature -4 C / freezing level 1900 mTHURSDAY - Cloudy / snow accumulation of 10 cm / alpine high temperature -6 C / freezing level 1600 m
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, there were reports of several natural and human triggered wet and dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 at treeline and in the alpine on south aspects and slab avalanches up to size 2 in the alpine on north aspects.On Saturday, there were reports of several natural, human and explosives triggered wind slab and storm slab avalanches up to size 1.5 at treeline and alpine elevations.On Friday, there were reports of a few size 1 human triggered storm slab avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
15-35 cm of recent storm snow sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north facing slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on dry snow and surface hoar (feathery crystals). Recent snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline.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.