We have a highly variable snowpack. Good avalanche hazard evaluation skills are needed to travel on this landscape.
Weather Forecast
Expecting temperatures to cool slightly with broken skies predicted on Friday. A skiff of snow is possible and alpine winds will blow strong from the West. Only light westerlies are forecast at lower elevations.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is faceting and losing strength especially in shallow areas. At tree line and above, the mid-pack is generally supportive where snow pack is greater than a meter. Wind slabs are present in lee features at upper elevations. Surface hoar is developing with the cool overnight temperatures and light valley bottom winds.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches reported today though expect some loose snow sluffing on solar aspects.
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.
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.