Storm slabs may be reactive to human triggering, especially in wind loaded areas at upper elevations. Watch for signs of instability such as whumphing, cracking and recent avalanches.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries / southwest winds, 35-60 km/h / alpine low temperature near -8SUNDAY - Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 5 cm / south winds, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -5 / freezing level 1700 mMONDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / southeast winds, 10-20 km/h / alpine high temperature near -4 / freezing level 1800 mTUESDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods / north winds, 10-20 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2 / freezing level 1900 m
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, there were reports of a few human triggered size 1 loose wet avalanches at treeline within the new snow.There has been three cornice failures observed in the region since Monday. One triggered a large avalanche that scrubbed down to the base of the snowpack, one triggered a thin slab avalanche and one did not trigger a slab.
Snowpack Summary
15-25 cm of new snow in the alpine and at treeline sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north slopes above 1800 m, where it sits on dry snow. 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.