Cooler temperatures are helping to stabilize the snowpack; however, remain vigilant. The sun's energy, if it comes out, can quickly and unexpectedly increase the danger.
Weather Forecast
Temperatures will be -5 to -8 with freezing levels 1100 to 1400m next few days. Winds will be light to moderate SW with some strong gusts. 5-10cm Saturday into Sunday evening with continued flurries and mixed clouds into the week. Pray and offer sacrifices to Ullr.
Snowpack Summary
Cooler temperatures are stabilizing the snowpack. Solar BTL locations have a variable un-supportive 10cm crust. Windslab building at BTL locations and intense transport in ALP occurring. Persistent slab TL-ALP in midpack. Weak midpack and basal facets exist. Suspect decomposed surface hoar down 40cm. It's distribution is uncertain.
Avalanche Summary
Good visibility Saturday with no new naturals noted. Monday-Thursday's warm temperatures and sun induced afternoon natural avalanche creating numerous loose wet to sz 2 at lower elevations and some size 3 slabs in the alpine.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
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.