Pockets of lingering wind slabs can still be found on high northerly aspects where the snow has remained dry and cold.
Weather Forecast
TONIGHT: Flurries. Accumulation 2-8 cm. Ridge wind light, north. Alpine Temperature near -5. Freezing level 1000 m.FRIDAY: Cloudy, light flurries. Accumulation 2-4 cm. Ridge wind light, southwest. Alpine Temperature near -5. Freezing level 1500 m.SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Ridge wind light, northeast. Alpine Temperature near -4. Freezing level 1500 m.SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Ridge wind light, northwest. Alpine Temperature near -5. Freezing level 1500 m.
Avalanche Summary
Wednesday there were reports of several natural, loose, wet avalanches up to size 1.5 on south aspects at all elevations, as well as a skier triggered wind slab (size 1) on a northeast aspect at 2300 m.On Tuesday there were two size 1.5 skier triggered wind slab avalanches reported on north and northwest aspects in the alpine. Reports from the past several days primarily included wet loose avalanches to size 2 in steeper terrain on sunny aspects.
Snowpack Summary
The main story has been the sun's effect on south and west facing slopes over the past several days. Daytime heating has resulted in moist or wet snow on sunny aspects and then freezing to form a crust overnight. High elevation northerly aspects still hold dry snow. Persistent weak layers from early January and mid-December are still being reported by local operators. They are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with a surface avalanche stepping down, a cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets.
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.