Weather Forecast
Cooler temperatures are forecast through the weekend, with freezing levels remaining at valley bottom and alpine lows down to -20. Little in the way of precipitation is forecast until the middle of next week. Winds are expected to be light to moderate from the SW, swinging briefly N Friday morning.
Snowpack Summary
An early season shallow snowpack has accumulated over the course of several brief but intense storms. Wind speeds of over 100km/h had been observed prior to and at the onset of the most recent snowfall, as a result snowpack distribution is highly variable.
Avalanche Summary
Several size 1-1.5 slab avalanches have been observed in the past 48hrs from wind loaded alpine start zones near ridge top.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
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.