It will take a few days for recent storm snow to settle and bond. A cautious approach is recommended at higher elevations.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, light winds, alpine temperatures around -4.SUNDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, light south winds, alpine temperatures around -5.MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, light southeast winds, alpine temperatures around -6.
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, explosive control produced several size 1.5-2.5 storm slabs on north and east alpine slopes. Human triggering avalanches in the storm snow may remain likely at higher elevations over the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
A warm wet storm delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m on Thursday. Expect to find storm slabs at higher elevations, particularly on wind-loaded northeast slopes. At lower elevations moist snow will gradually freeze into a hard crust. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of surface hoar layers that formed in early January that may still exist about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas. A widespread weak layer of facets from mid-December can be found buried about a metre deep, but is generally considered dormant.
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.