Things are improving but uncertainty remains with forecasters regarding the persistent slab problem. Remaining conservative in your decision making is still advised.
Weather Forecast
A weak system will track through the forecast region starting Thursday night, bringing up to 15cm of snow by the end of Saturday. Temperatures will remain on the warm side of seasonal. Alpine winds will increase late friday to the strong range from the SW.
Snowpack Summary
Solar crusts on some steep SE to West slopes at TL. Surface hoar development at treeline. In thick snowpack areas, the Dec 10th weak layer of facets is now down 100-150cm with a stronger snowpack below. In thin snowpack areas, there is little separation between Dec 10 and the weak depth hoar/ facets sitting 40 cm above the ground
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches observed or reported today.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.