Don't linger underneath cornices. If the sun comes out, avoid sunny slopes.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
The first in a series of fronts is expected to bring light snow overnight Friday, with moderate south-westerly winds and the freezing level dropping to around 1300 m. There is a lull on Saturday before a second front brings light snow and moderate to strong winds again on Sunday. Another lull is expected on Monday.
Avalanche Summary
Size 1-2 loose wet avalanches were failing on steep solar aspects over the last couple of days. A few small wind slabs were triggered by skiers on Tuesday. Cornices are large and fragile, and may fail under the weight of a person.
Snowpack Summary
Cornices are large and weak. Incoming light snow will land on variable surfaces including wind slabs and scoured surfaces, surface hoar and sun crusts. Recently formed wind slabs are generally settling, but may still be reactive to human triggers in specific terrain, and may be triggered by cornice fall. Several crusts can be found in the upper metre of the snowpack. A layer of surface hoar buried in early January is down 1-2 m. In most places it is thought to be capped by a thick strong crust and triggering an avalanche on it is unlikely.
Problems
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.
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.