Expect to find pockets of wind slab at upper elevations, which may be reactive to human triggers. Keep an eye out for changing conditions as prolonged sunny periods will increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches on sun-exposed slopes.
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with clear periods / southeast winds, 10-20 km/h / alpine low temperature near -2FRIDAY - Cloudy with isolated flurries, 5 cm / southeast winds, 10-20 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 2000 mSATURDAY - Cloudy with isolated flurries / south winds, 10-30 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2 / freezing level 1800 mSUNDAY - Cloudy with flurries, 5-10 cm / southwest winds, 25-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2 / freezing level 1800 m
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, there was a report of an explosives triggered size 1.5 slab avalanche.On Tuesday, there was a report of one size 2 natural loose wet avalanche on a south aspect at 2400 m.
Snowpack Summary
Approximately 10 cm of new snow sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north facing slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on dry snow and surface hoar (feathery crystals). Below approximately 1800 m, the recent precipitation likely fell as rain. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.
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.