Forecast new snow and wind are expected to create fresh wind slabs reactive to human triggers.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY: 5-10 cm new snow. Moderate southeasterly ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 1300 m.FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Moderate westerly ridgetop winds. Freezing level rising to around 1900 m.SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Strong southwesterly ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 1900 m.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported in this region on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
Rising freezing levels have caused the recent 10-15 cm of storm snow to become moist up to about 2000 m, with minimal overnight re-freeze. Below 1400 m in some areas, rain has soaked the snow surface.Multiple crusts exist within the top 100 cm of the snowpack. Some parts of the region may have a surface hoar layer roughly 60 cm deep on north aspects at treeline.A well settled midpack sits above sugary facets in many parts of the region, especially thin snowpack areas.
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 Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.