The weather forecast calls for a few days of settled weather
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Friday
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light south wind / Alpine temperature 1 / Freezing level 1300mSATURDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10cm / Moderate west wind / Alpine temperature 1 / Freezing level 1300mSUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate northwest wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1000m
Avalanche Summary
On Friday expect human triggering of storm and wind slabs to still be possible in the alpine and tree line elevation bands where the recent precipitation has fallen as snow.
Snowpack Summary
Tuesday and Wednesday saw very heavy amounts of precipitation. The freezing level hovered around tree line during that time, however it can be expected that 70-100cm of snow fell at upper elevations. The new snow would have been redistributed by moderate to strong southwest wind and is sitting on a well settled lower snowpack. Rain below tree line has soaked an already moist and/or wet lower snowpack.
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.
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.