Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday
Weather Forecast
Friday: Light to locally moderate snowfall / Moderate southwest winds / Freezing level at 1200mSaturday: Overcast skies / Light winds / Freezing level at 1000mSunday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light winds / Freezing level at 1100m
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported.
Snowpack Summary
At upper elevations light to locally moderate of recent snow have been shifted into pockets of stiff windslab by strong southwest winds. Below treeline, rain has moistened snow surfaces. Roughly 25-50cm below the surface you may find a variety of old surfaces which formed during the early December cold snap. These surfaces include sugary faceted snow (which may overlie a crust in some areas) and spotty surface hoar in sheltered terrain. In most places the overlying slab seems to be well bonded to this interface thanks to ongoing moderate temperatures.Snowpack depths vary greatly across the region, but are significantly lower than average for this time of year. Terrain below treeline is still mostly below threshold for avalanche activity. Early season riding hazards such as rocks, stumps and logs are lurking below the surface in many areas. In glaciated terrain new snow on the surface might be just enough to hide open crevasses where supportive snow bridges have not yet developed.
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.