Variable winds and recent convective flurries have created fresh wind slabs on exposed slopes.
Weather Forecast
Mainly sunny for Thursday then cloudy with sunny periods on Friday and Saturday, with isolated light flurries possible in the northern part of the region. Freezing as high as 1500 m on Thursday then up to 2200 m for Friday and Saturday, but down to valley bottoms overnight. Light southwesterly winds are expected for Thursday before increasing to moderate westerlies on Friday.
Avalanche Summary
Reports Tuesday include widespread dry loose sloughing up to Size 1.5 in steep terrain. Slope cutting also produced isolated Size 1 wind slabs below ridge crests and on the leeward side of terrain features at treeline and above.
Snowpack Summary
Variable recent storm snow totals across the region are generally in the 5-25 cm range. The snow surface varies with elevation and aspect with respect to sun and wind exposure, and includes dry new snow, loose facetted snow, wind slabs, and sun crusts. The mid-February crust is down around 10-30 cm where it isn't wind loaded or scoured. The late-Jan crust/surface hoar layer (up to 100 cm deep) and the mid-January surface hoar (80-120 cm deep) are generally dormant, and chances of triggering these weaknesses have decreased. However, triggering may be possible with a large input such as cornice fall, or an avalanche stepping down, especially on slopes that see a lot of sun.
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.