Temperatures are finally moderating allowing winds to return to the typical, strong, SW flow. Be on the lookout for building Windslabs in all exposed terrain.
Weather Forecast
Tonight: Trace precipitation with strong SW winds gusting to 80 km/h.Friday: Mainly Sunny. Alpine high -5.Strong West winds gusting to 60km/h. Saturday: Sunny. Alpine high - 4. Moderate West Winds.Sunday : Sunny. Alpine high -1. Moderate West Winds.
Snowpack Summary
Strong SW winds with extreme gusts contributing to Windslab development on Thursday. These new Windslabs sit over 10-15 cm of faceted powder in the alpine and at treeline. Surface snow below treeline is mostly unaffected by wind. The midpack is generally strong in thick snowpack locations, and is bridging weak basal facets.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity.
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.