Natural avalanche activity is decreasing, but human-triggering is still a very real possibility. Increased winds will also add to the prevalence of wind slabs. Conservative route selection is in order.
Weather Forecast
Alpine temperatures should reach -15 celsius under a mix of sun and cloud. Winds will increase to 35km/h from the West. No precipitation is in the immediate forecast.
Avalanche Summary
The avalanche cycle continued today, but natural activity is tapering off. Numerous loose dry and slab avalanches up to size 2.0 were observed today. Generally speaking the slab avalanches are not propagating widely, but some of the slabs are stepping down to the November rain crust.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow of 50 to 70cm has settled rapidly in the past 24hrs. Increased winds are now redistributing this low density snow and forming more extensive wind slabs in Alpine and Treeline terrain. The November rain crust remains a prominent feature near the base of the snowpack.
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.