Wind slabs have formed from the recent strong winds. Be alert to changing snow conditions under your skis or boards.
Weather Forecast
The winds are expected to be 30km/hr from the SW on Friday with mostly a cloudy sky and a temperature of -6c. For Saturday, winds will be light with a mix of sun and cloud and warming up to -1c in the alpine. No snow in the horizon for the weekend.
Avalanche Summary
One natural size 1 was observed in the Commonwealth area. Another size 1 below treeline (gully side wall feature) skier controlled that failed on the basal facets.
Snowpack Summary
Wind and basal facets are the themes this year so far... Another windy day today has added to the wind slabs in the alpine and open areas at tree line. Northerly and Easterly aspects and lee feature are most likely to have more snow and soft slabs because of the winds. Some whumphing was felt in the trees in the Commonwealth area today. This is a reminder that the bottom half of the snowpack is weak and consists mostly of facets. Good skiing can be found on moderate angles and the forecasters are staying off of the steeper lines and away from large slopes. Any avalanche that occurs has the potential to step down to the basal facets creating an even larger avalanche.
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.