Slab avalanches are likely on Friday as new snow accumulates.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT: 10-15 cm of snow, moderate southeast wind, alpine temperatures drop to -4 C.FRIDAY: Another 5-15 cm of snow, light south wind, alpine high temperatures around -2 C.SATURDAY: Scattered flurries with 5-10 cm of snow possible, light wind, alpine high temperatures around -2 C.SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind, alpine high temperatures around -5 C.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, surface snow produced some small (size 1) loose dry avalanches and one small skier triggered storm slab was reported (20 cm thick). Last weekend, small (size 1) wind slabs were reactive to skier traffic.
Snowpack Summary
Expect 15-30 cm of new snow to form fresh storm slabs by Friday afternoon. Snow from earlier in the week has rapidly settled, except in exposed terrain where it formed wind slabs. This snow rests on a variety of wind affected surfaces that formed during a previous extreme wind event. It may be resting on isolated pockets of facets in sheltered locations. Below that, the snowpack is well-settled and strong.
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.