Use caution and conservative terrain choices if venturing into newly opened back-country areas. The snowpack is weak and touchy and we have had no field teams or snowpack reports in these areas.
Weather Forecast
Temperatures are to drop below freezing tonight and remain there through the weekend. 5 cm new snow with moderate SW winds possible overnight, winds are forecast to ease to light by tomorrow afternoon. Expect a cloudy weekend with a few light flurries.
Snowpack Summary
Isothermal conditions are being reported below tree-line. 10-15 new snow has fallen on previous hard windslab in the alpine and open tree-line features. In sheltered locations tree-line and above, the new snow is adding to a cohesive soft slab that is sitting over a weak and faceted mid-pack. The snowpack is delicate and untrustworthy.
Avalanche Summary
Late this afternoon, small loose wet avalanches were being reported below tree-line on steep rocky terrain. Surprisingly, little other activity was observed or reported today.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Friday
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.
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.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.