A storm slab may be found above tree line and into the alpine.
Weather Forecast
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries throughout the day. Temperature will rise to +5 in valley bottoms and to -3 in the alpine with a freezing level of 1700m. Winds will remain light from the southeast. Thursday will see the arrival of more snow / rain, strong winds and a high freezing level as a warm low pressure system moves into our region.
Snowpack Summary
15cm of storm snow in the past two days. Above treeline the new snow remains dry and unconsolidated burying a previous melt freeze crust that extends up to 2300m on all aspects and to mountaintop on solar aspects. Below treeline the upper snowpack contains a series of crusts at or near the surface and is becoming isothermal at valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
Limited natural avalanche activity over the last couple days, except out of steep unsupported terrain.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.