It will take a few days recent storm snow to settle and bond. A cautious approach is recommended.
Confidence
Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods, light southwest winds, freezing level around 1200 m.SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light winds, freezing level around 1000 m.SUNDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, light winds, freezing level around 800 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, numerous natural and explosive triggered storm slab avalanches in the size 2-3 range were reported on north and east aspects. Avalanches running into lower elevations entrained significant amounts of moist snow. Human triggering avalanches in the storm snow will remain likely on Friday.
Snowpack Summary
A warm wet storm has delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m. The new snow has formed a widespread storm slab problem at higher elevations and a loose wet problem at lower elevations. Thicker storm slabs can be found on wind-loaded northeast slopes. Two layers of surface hoar that formed in early January exist in isolated sheltered areas and are now buried about 40 cm deep. Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak layer of facets can be found buried about a metre deep and is generally considered dormant, but its status could change with ongoing warming.
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.