Forecast precipitation amounts are highly variable between weather models. The forecast herein assumes approximately 20 cm of snow accumulation by Saturday midday.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, moderate to strong south wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1200 m.SATURDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, strong south wind, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level 1400 m.SUNDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, light to moderate west wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1500 m.MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light southwest wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1500 m.
Avalanche Summary
Many small avalanches were triggered by skiers and naturally on Thursday, within the recent storm snow. They ranged from slab to loose, occurred on all aspects, and generally at treeline and alpine terrain. The likelihood of triggering avalanches will increase above the snow-rain line due to more stormy conditions this weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Somewhere around 10 and 30 cm of snow is expected in the region Friday night into Saturday. This snow will overly recent storm snow on high-elevation northerly aspects and a melt-freeze crust elsewhere. Below around 1800 m, the snow will fall onto a wet and well-settled snowpack. Snow is melting rapidly at lower elevations.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.