Alpine temperatures expected to be above freezing over the weekend during the afternoon. Expect sloughing on steep solar aspects at treeline and alpine elevations.
Weather Forecast
Weather models indicate that freezing levels may climb to 3000m during the heat of the day over the weekend, with temps up to +5C at treeline. Inversions have been common over the past few days and are likely to continue. Winds remain light, with cold temperatures overnight. No precipitation until next week.
Snowpack Summary
72 hours of cold temperatures have weakened the snowpack. Isolated pockets of windslab in exposed areas above treeline. Alpine is scoured in many places, leaving dirt, rock or shallow snow cover. Surface hoar formation and faceting is expected to be widespread. Warm temps in past 24hrs may be producing thin crust on solar aspects at treeline.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches observed or reported today, but no road patrol was conducted. Expect steep solar aspects to shed snow during the heat of the day with forecasted freezing levels up to 3000m.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain
Problems
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.
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.