Ice climbers should pay close attention to the effect of warming temperatures on the snowpack. Plan to be off climbs with solar exposed slopes above early in the day.
Weather Forecast
The mild valley bottom temperatures on Friday will not reach the alpine. Moderate Westerly winds at treeline and below will reach severe in the alpine. Skies will be partly cloudy and no new snow is expected. On Saturday, models are calling for snow flurries that may produce localized amounts approaching 10-15 cm (don't hold your breath!)
Snowpack Summary
Hard windslab is bridging the weak basal facets above treeline. Limited whumpfing has been observed at treeline in the Parker Ridge area. Very little new snow in the past few days. Moderate SW winds continues to build pockets of thin windslab on lee aspects at treeline and above. The snowpack is weak and faceted below treeline.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, several loose snow avalanches were observed along SE facing alpine ridge lines.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday
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.
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.