The last time it warmed up (about a week ago), the region experienced a bit of an avalanche cycle. Wednesday is expected to be mild, so watch localized conditions in case history repeats itself.
Weather Forecast
Wednesday will be the first milder we've had for quite some time, with temperatures reaching a relatively balmy -8. Light NE winds, no snow and generally sunny conditions can be expected. Late Thursday and into Friday some very light flurries are possible.
Avalanche Summary
Isolated natural slab avalanche activity has occurred in the past 24 to 48 hours on E and NE aspects in the Alpine. These slabs are associated with our current wind slab problem and are failing 40 to 50cm deep and running up to size 2.0.
Snowpack Summary
Widespread wind effect and wind slabs in the Alpine on all aspects (as long as the slope hasn't been blown down to rock). These slabs disappear quite quickly as you descend into Treeline. The prolonged and significant cold period continues to facet the snowpack at all elevations, which is particularly problematic in shallow snowpack areas and/or at lower elevations where foot/ski penetration to ground is a real possibility.
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.
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.