Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Light snow, perhaps 10cm, easing by afternoon. Cool temperatures. Moderate south-west winds. Sunday: A cold day with flurries possible. Northerly winds.Monday: Cold in the valleys with sunny skies and warmer temperatures in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
At treeline, snowpack depths are around 250cm.A hard surface crust exists in many places, even up into the alpine. Surface hoar is growing on this surface. The upper snowpack comprises a series of storm snow layers, which have generally bonded well to each other and are now gaining strength.Recent winds have led to wind slab development occurring on north and east aspects, but also some on south aspects. Concern for lower snowpack layers has diminished and remains only in shallow snowpack areas. Facets associated with a crust from mid-December and/or sugary facets at the base of the snowpack may still be a concern in areas you know to be unusually shallow, or where you can see rocks poking up out of the snow.
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.